Cavaliers star LeBron James was ejected for the first time in his lengthy and illustrious career after arguing a no-call late in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game with the Heat.
James was in the midst of his 1,082nd career regular season game, and 1,299th overall, when he rushed over to bark at Kane Fitzgerald about a no-call on his drive to the basket. Fitzgerald gave James an immediate technical foul before ejecting him with 1:56 remaining in the quarter and the Cavs leading by 23.
“I got fouled and showed my frustration to the ref, and he sent me to the locker room,” James said after the game. “That particular play, I got fouled all the way up the court. That’s what it was about. I said what I had to say and I moved on, but he decided I should get (ejected). We got the win, that’s what’s most important.”
Fitzgerald told a pool reporter that James’ ejection “was a culmination of a couple different acts.”
“Immediately after the no-call, he turned and threw an air punch directly at me and then he aggressively charged at me and then he used vulgarity in my ear a few times,” Fitzgerald said.
James finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five steals in 29 minutes. The Heat couldn’t capitalize, however, as the Cavaliers triumphed 108-97 for their ninth straight victory.
