LeBron James’ bloody elbow that cost him his second ejection in 18 NBA seasons

It was not the best night of play and image for the star Lebron James, who he was sent off in the third period of the game that the Los Angeles Lakers, his team, finally won on the road with a 121-116 comeback against the Detroit Pistons.

James he was sent off early in the third quarter after punching Pistons center Isaiah Stewart in the face, who suffered a bloody cut to the face as a result. In his 18 NBA seasons, LeBron had only been sent off once, for protesting to umpires, in 2017. when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and played against the Miami Heat, his former team.

James action, which could generate a collective fight between the players of both teams, in the end ended with the expulsion of both players involved in the incident and also a technical foul that was pointed out to point guard Russell Westbrook, who along with center Anthony Davis were decisive in the victory of the Lakers.

James was sent to the locker room after his elbow and left hand appeared to make contact with Stewart’s face as they became entangled fighting a rebound. The Detroit center had to be contained more than once, keeping him away from James, and he, too, was sent off. Westbrook committed a technical foul after umpires reviewed the play and the altercations that followed.

Everyone involved was relieved that a massive fight like the one on November 19, 2004, did not break out, when Pistons and Indiana Pacers players extended a brawl to the stands, in the biggest scandal in history. NBA basketball.

Once calm returned Sunday night, Detroit (4-12) closed the third quarter strong and led 99-84 heading into the fourth quarter. But the Lakers reacted with Westbrook and Davis scoring more than 10 points in the fourth quarter and making a difference.

Davis contributed a double-double of 30 points, ten rebounds and two blocks that were key in the final stretch of the game that put him to 20-year-old rookie winger Cade Cunningham of the Pistons. While Westbrook contributed another double-double of 26 points, ten assists and nine rebounds.

Cunningham, the first overall pick from the past college draft, had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to become the youngest player in franchise history with a triple-double. He also joined Hall of Famers Grant Hill and Dave DeBusschere as the third Pistons player to hit a triple-double in their opening games for the Detroit franchise.

Westbrook was decisive by contributing 15 points, six assists and five rebounds in the fourth quarter with an unstoppable attacking game by the Pistons, who also stopped moving the ball and scoring.

The victory allowed the Lakers to go 9-9 and have it positive for the first time so far this season. The veterans, power forward Carmelo Anthony reached 18 points as a reserve for the Lakers and center Dwight Howard, who also came off the bench, had another 13, including two triples, his best record as a professional.

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