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Late in the third quarter of Sunday evening’s game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic challenged a Carmelo Anthony drive at the rim and ended up taking an elbow to the face for his efforts.
CARMELO ANTHONY HAS BEEN EJECTED!!! pic.twitter.com/wL0hkrgbHA
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) November 6, 2017
The call originally went against Nurkic. With the contact being to the head/face the referees went to the replay table to review the incident. After review the foul against Nurkic was rescinded and a Flagrant-2 was assessed to Anthony.
Concerning Anthony’s ejection, former Executive Vice President of the NBA Stu Jackson chimed in on Twittter:
IMO @carmeloanthony CONTACT to @bosnianbeast27 was unnecessary but not excessive=FF1 Not a b-ball play (lined him up) but severity not there
— Stu Jackson (@StuJackson32) November 6, 2017
Keep in mind that previously Jackson’s job included reviewing these types of incidents, deciding whether the ruling was correct and/or sufficient.
After the initial play, before the replay was underway, NBC Sports NW’s Jason Quick had this to say concerning Nurkic going to the ground.
For wanting to play like Bad Boys, Jusuf Nurkic sure doesn't seem very tough
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) November 6, 2017
Leading up to the season Nurkic declared that this year’s Trail Blazers wanted to be “bad boys” in the vein of the classic Detroit Pistons teams.
Quick did add this Tweet soon after:
Although he did take an elbow to the chin on that Carmelo Anthony drive https://t.co/AvdQMRtrcg
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) November 6, 2017
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**UPDATE**
Mike Richman of the Oregonian has this from NBA Crew Chief Rodney Mott concerning Anthony’s ejection.
Here’s the explanation of Carmelo Anthony’s ejection pic.twitter.com/T8ZdAkYltq
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) November 6, 2017