Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard has escaped a ban for his elbow to the head of Golden State Warriors' Australian centre Andrew Bogut.
The NBA has decided not to upgrade Howard's flagrant 1 foul, leaving centre Howard free to play in the must-win game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Warriors in Oakland, California on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
The Warriors lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and will advance to the NBA final series with one more win.
NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn said in a statement that Howard was trying to free himself from Bogut when Howard "recklessly hit him in the face with an open hand" during the Rockets' game 4 win in Houston.
Thorn said the contact was deemed unnecessary by game officials and the league didn't "see a reason to modify that call."
Howard received a flagrant 1 foul after throwing his elbow at Bogut's head, catching him in the face, after the Warriors centre made contact with him.
He could have been suspended for Wednesday night's game by accumulation of flagrant foul points if the NBA upgraded it to a flagrant 2.
Share
