In Sunday’s 88-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers, Carlos Boozer was involved in a skirmish with Roy Hibbert in the fourth quarter. After Boozer pushed Hibbert to the floor, the two players had to be separated and the Lakers forward was assessed a flagrant foul after the referees reviewed the play.
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Following the win, head coach Byron Scott talked about Boozer’s flagrant foul and says NCAA is “much more physical” than the NBA according to ESPN Los Angeles’ Baxter Holmes:
Lakers coach Byron Scott, after expressing befuddlement at a flagrant foul called on one of his players in a win Sunday over the Indiana Pacers, said college basketball is more aggressive and “much more physical” than the NBA.
After hitting the game-winner, Kobe Bryant also shared his thoughts on the flagrant foul, via Holmes:
“I wonder what the league is coming to when that’s a flagrant foul. It’s a shame that has to be a flagrant,” Bryant said after scoring 20 points, including hitting the go-ahead shot with 12.4 seconds left. “It’s a foul. It’s a technical foul, maybe. That’s about it. But a flagrant foul? My goodness.”
While Boozer received the flagrant foul for the push, Hibbert only received a technical foul as the two players continued to jaw the rest of the fourth quarter. After the game, Boozer claims Hibbert flops a lot and everyone knows he is not a ‘tough guy.’
With their 11th win of the season, the Lakers travel to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back. Without Kobe (resting) and Wes Johnson (strained right hip flexor), the Lakers will be short-handed as they face one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
[divide]Kobe Bryant Hits Game-Winner, Reactions To Carlos Boozer, Roy Hibbert Scuffle