Max Strus randomly headbutts Scottie Barnes in Cavaliers-Raptors Game 7, lucky to avoid flagrant 2 ejection
With Game 7 in the steadiness Sunday, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus randomly headbutted Toronto Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes.
Strus was issued a flagrant 1 foul after a replay evaluate. He was lucky to have averted a flagrant 2 penalty and an ejection. The Cavaliers led by 15 on the time of the headbutt and went on to a 114-102 win to eradicate the Raptors and advance to the second spherical of the playoffs, the place they will face the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons beginning Tuesday.
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What was Max Strus considering?
The incident happened late in the third quarter because the Cavaliers held a 76-61 lead. Cleveland had simply scored a bucket, and Barnes took the inbounds move below the basket on Toronto’s ensuing possession.
Then — apparently unprovoked — Strus leaned down and drove the crown of his head into Barnes’ chin.
Here’s the complete sequence:
Officials instantly blew the play useless earlier than the NBC broadcast realized what had occurred. Strus was initially known as for a private foul that was upgraded to a flagrant 1 upon evaluate.
Strus pleaded his case earlier than the evaluate, nevertheless it’s arduous to clarify it as something apart from what it was — an unprovoked headbutt to the face of an opponent.
The results of the flagrant 1 foul was two free throws for Barnes and retention of possession by the Raptors.
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Barnes hit each free throws after which hit a soar shot for a four-point possession that reduce Cleveland’s lead to 76-65. It may have ended up a lot worse for Strus and the Cavaliers.
It’s tough to argue that Strus’ headbutt was a basketball play. It may have — and possibly ought to have — resulted in a flagrant 2 penalty and Strus’ ejection.
But Strus was allowed to stay in the sport because the Cavaliers and Raptors battled down the stretch with a visit to the second spherical of the playoffs at stake. He completed with 12 factors, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in half-hour off the bench.
For the Cavs, Game 1 of the East semifinals is scheduled for Tuesday evening in Detroit (7 pm ET, Peacock, NBC Sports Network).
