Chris Birdman Andersen was assessed a flagrant-1 foul during the second quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night for leveling Tyler Hansbrough and then pushing him.
Miami Heat guard Norris Cole missed a layup and Indiana Pacers forward Paul George rebounded the ball. Then, Birdman decided to run into Hansbrough and check him with his shoulder, sending Psycho T to the ground. After Hansbrough got up, the two bumped chests and Birdman pushed the Pacers forward.
“I don’t know what his deal is,” Hansbrough said after the game per USA Today. “Was I surprised? No, I wasn’t surprised. I was caught off-guard.”
Both players received technical fouls on the play, while Birdman got the flagrant foul. Hansbrough made one of two free throws.
Andersen definitely should have received a flagrant-2 foul and automatic ejection for his actions. Instead, he remained in the game and blocked a Hansbrough shot less than a minute later:
The Heat won the game 90-79 to go up 3-2 in the series. Andersen had four points, four rebounds, and two blocks in 18 minutes.
