Bulls' Gibson ejected for kicking Dellavedova
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls‘ Eastern Conference semifinal series went from competitive to contentious in Tuesday’s Game 5 106-101 Cavs win when Chicago’s Taj Gibson kicked Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova while the Cavs guard was lying on the ground.
Gibson, who started in place of the injured Pau Gasol, was called for a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the game after the officials reviewed the play.
The incident occurred with 10:25 remaining in the fourth quarter after Aaron Brooks‘ layup cut Cleveland’s lead to 83-73. Dellavedova tried to box out Gibson while Brooks’ shot was in the air, and Gibson shoved Dellavedova in the back, making him fall to the floor. While on the floor, Dellavedova squeezed both of his legs around one of Gibson’s feet, prompting the Bulls big man to kick him.
Several Bulls and Cavs players tangled up in a brief fracas, during which Brooks pushed J.R. Smith in the back, but the only discipline administered after the review was Gibson’s ejection.
Cleveland has won two straight in the series to take a 3-2 lead.
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