Lance Stephenson avoided being called for a flagrant foul for smacking LeBron James in the head while playing defense in the third quarter of Game 1 of their playoff series on Sunday. However, Stephenson was still called for a foul and technical foul.
James was driving towards the basket when Stephenson went for a block and swatted James in the head.
Lance Stephenson gets LeBron James across the face. pic.twitter.com/arfPAgPdgp
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 15, 2018
James received three free throws as a result. He made two of the three to make it an eight-point game.
Stephenson’s defense on James is something to watch throughout the series between Indiana and Cleveland given the history between the two players.
