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Smith escapes punishment for Game 2 shove

JR Smith will be available to play for Cleveland in game 3 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals after escaping punishment for shoving Boston's Al Horford.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith will not face discipline from the NBA for his hard foul on Boston Celtics forward Al Horford in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, according to a report from ESPN.

Smith shoved an airborne Horford on a drive to the basket late in the fourth quarter.

"It was a good call," Smith said. "I blatantly pushed him. It wasn't like I was trying to low-bridge him or something to make sure he didn't get it. It was a good, hard foul."

Meanwhile, Marcus Smart and Smith exchanged shoves after the incident and had to be separated, with each player being whistled for a technical foul.

"Al is a defenseless person. He's in the air. He can't control how his body goes, and he's not even looking. And you go and take two hands to the back; that's a dirty shot. You just can't allow that to keep happening," said Smart.

The Celtics lead the series 2-0. Game 3 is Saturday night in Cleveland.


1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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