Turiaf ejected for flagrant foul

SALT LAKE CITY – Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf was ejected early in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Jazz on Sunday for a flagrant foul.

Turiaf knocked Utah’s Ronnie Price hard to the floor as Price drove for a layup, leaving the Jazz guard with a bloody gash over his right eye.

Turiaf came down hard with his left arm and Price went straight down and banged his head on the court. Price leaped straight up as his teammates swarmed the officials and pushed for the flagrant call. Utah coach Jerry Sloan also came off the bench immediately after the play.

The officials conferred and kicked out Turiaf.

Price, who finished with four points, two assists and a block in Utah’s 123-115 overtime victory, said he didn’t think Turiaf was trying to hurt him.

“Those kind of plays happen in the playoffs,” said Price, who needed four stitches to close the cut.

Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said it shouldn’t have been a flagrant foul and was surprised to see Turiaf ejected.

Turiaf is 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, eight inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than Price.

“In no way shape or form was I trying to hurt anybody,” Turiaf said. “I was going for a blocked shot and unfortunately, Ronnie Price is a point guard and I am a big guy.”

Turiaf was the 2005 West Coast Conference player of the year while at Gonzaga University and a second-round draft pick of the Lakers that year.