Matthew Dellavedova says he didn't commit a dirty play on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green by dragging him down onto the court.
Dellavedova says it was Green who fell on him.
The Australian point guard's latest on-court controversy came in the second quarter as his Cleveland Cavaliers lost 104-91 to the Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals, putting them 2-3 behind and on the brink of a series defeat.
"No," Dellavedova replied when AAP asked if he deliberately hooked Green's arm under his.
"I was just boxing him out and he fell on me."
Green appeared to roll on Dellavedova's head when both were on the floor.
The pair were both called for fouls.
When the incident was replayed on the big screens inside the Warriors' Oracle Arena, Green and the parochial Golden State crowd erupted.
It recalled Dellavedova's controversial leg lock on the Chicago Bulls' Taj Gibson and also his falling incident on the Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford earlier in the playoffs which had players and US media questioning if he was a dirty player.
Green was so furious he had to be held back by his Australian team-mate Andrew Bogut when he complained to the referees.
"I was a little angry at what took place," Green said.
"I mean, I'm really not going to get into it.
"It is what it is. The play happened.
"I thought something went on on the play, but, hey, it is what it is."
Warriors star Stepehn Curry (37 points) went head-to-head with Cleveland's LeBron James, who had 40 points, in a scoring duel in the game-five contest.
Dellavedova had a poor shooting night with five points on two from nine shooting.
Centre Bogut didn't play as the Warriors team stuck with a small lineup that has won the past two games.
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