Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace ejected for hitting James Harden of Oklahoma City Thunder – NBA Update
The Los Angeles Lakers won against Oklahoma City Thunder 114 – 106 in double overtime but the victory was marred by an ugly incident in the 2nd quarter. Lakers star Metta World Peace hit James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the head with
his elbow, sending the guard crashing to the floor.
The unprovoked attack led to a stop in play and tempers flared on both sides. Harden took quite a while to recover from the blow and the officials, after reviewing the incident on TV, hit World Peace with a flagrant 2, ejecting him from the game.
Metta looked completely overcome with zeal and misguided emotion. Harden never confronted him or even looked at him, as he was struck by the Lakers player from behind. His actions understandably infuriated the OKC players, who went up to World Peace only
to find him ready for a fight, fists on the ready.
The Lakers player did not talk to reporters after the game but did issue a statement. He explained that he was in an emotional state of mind and did not mean to hurt James Harden. The player also apologized to OKC and Harden.
"During that play I just dunked on (Kevin) Durant and (Serge) Ibaka and I got really emotional and excited and it was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow," World Peace said. "I hope he's OK. The Thunder, they're playing for
a championship this year, so I hope that he's OK and I apologize to the Thunder and to James Harden.”
Serge Ibaka was one of the first players to react to Metta’s cowardly hit, and was visibly shaken by the player’s antics. He explained after the game that the incident was like nothing he had seen before and he was just shocked to see a professional basketball
player act in such a manner.
"I saw it happened and it was a very hard hit," Ibaka said. " ... That's the first I've seen anything like that happen live. I was surprised. I went up to him to ask him why he did that and he wanted to fight me too.”
Los Angeles Lakers have been involved in such incidents before, with Andrew Bynum elbowing Jose Barea last season in the playoffs. That incident earned him a lengthy suspension.
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