Dwight Howard two flagrant foul points away from automatic suspension
Dwight Howard was ejected on Wednesday night after a shove to the face of Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets. A flagrant 2 was called and the Lakers went on to lose 126-114 without Howard.
Under the league’s flagrant foul policy, Howard has four “points” and is not subject to automatic suspension.
The flagrant foul has two levels; level 2 is an automatic ejection. This was Howard’s third flagrant of the season after getting a level 1 on October 30 (Dallas Mavericks) and another on November 21 (Sacramento Kings).
The NBA will review the played which could lead to a reclassification as a flagrant 1 or it could be deemed egregious enough to warrant a suspension.
The league will look for “how hard the foul was; the outcome of the foul (e.g., whether it led to an altercation); and the level of the injury sustained by the player who was fouled,” according to the NBA’s flagrant foul guidelines.
To Howard’s benefit, Faried was shaken up but not hurt (he was able to finish the game) and there was no altercation.
Once a player hits six flagrant-foul points, they receive an automatic single-game suspension. Any further flagrant fouls earn a day’s suspension per point.
If Howard’s count stands at four after review, an additional flagrant 2 would mean a mandatory suspension.
The only other Laker with any flagrant foul points is Metta World Peace, who has two from a flagrant 2 committed against the Houston Rockets on November 20.
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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