Rockets’ Dwight Howard won’t be suspended for Game 5 vs Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. – Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard will not be suspended for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors after the NBA decided to uphold his flagrant 1 foul.

NBA President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn said in a statement Tuesday night that Howard was trying to free himself from Andrew Bogut when Howard “recklessly hit him in the face with an open hand.” Thorn said the contact was deemed unnecessary by game officials, who were aided by replay review, and the league doesn’t “see a reason to modify that call.”

Howard received a flagrant 1 foul early in the third quarter after throwing his left elbow at Bogut’s head after the Warriors center made contact with him. Howard could’ve been suspended for tonight’s game by accumulation of flagrant foul points if the NBA upgraded the call to a flagrant 2.

Howard said after the game he was reacting to Bogut’s contact and wasn’t trying to hurt him. Told Howard would be suspended for Game 5 if the NBA upgraded the call to a flagrant 2, Bogut said he doubted that would happen then.

The decision comes with the Warriors leading the series 3-1 and after Atlanta’s Al Horford and Cleveland’s J.R. Smith recently received stricter penalties for contact above the shoulders.

Horford was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday for striking Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova above his shoulders late in the first half. The two got tangled on the floor and as Dellavedova was rolling up on his right knee, Horford brought his right arm down hard and struck the side of the scrappy Australian’s head.