May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) looks to score as Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) defends during the second half in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard avoided a suspension for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors after a hard foul in the previous game of the series.
The NBA upheld the flagrant-1 foul call from Monday night’s game. NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn said Howard was trying to get free from Warriors center Andrew Bogut when he “recklessly hit him in the face with an open hand.”
Thorn added that there was no reason to alter the flagrant-1 foul call made by the game officials early in the third quarter, finding that the contact was unnecessary but not excessive. Howard threw an elbow at Bogut’s head after there was contact between the two.
If the foul would have been changed to flagrant-2, Howard could have been suspended for Game 5 on Wednesday night.
The Warriors lead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series after the Rockets avoided elimination with a win Monday night. Golden State will attempt to close out the series Wednesday in Oakland, Calif.
