Sullinger Ejected After Pair Of Flagrant Fouls
BOSTON (CBS) -- As the Boston Celtics were getting blown out by the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, Jared Sullinger showed a bit of frustration.
Because of that, he didn't have to take part in most of the second half of the 119-98 drubbing in Denver.
The Celtics forward was ejected early in the third quarter after picking up a pair of Flagrant-1 fouls in a 23 second span. Some might consider Sully lucky for not having to play the final 20 minutes, but he is now just one flagrant away from a one-game suspension.
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Sullinger was first whistled for a hard foul while trying to prevent a layup by Denver forward J.J. Hickson. Sullinger came down hard with both hands, and though he got mostly ball, officials reviewed the play and upheld the Flagrant-1 call. After Hickson hit both free throws and Ty Lawson hit a jumper to put the Nuggets up by 27, Sullinger elbowed Denver's Kenneth Faried while making a move to the basket on Boston's ensuing possession.
After a brief review by the officials, that Flagrant-1 also stood and Sullinger was off to the Boston locker room for the rest of the night. The C's forward finished with eight points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes.
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There's a chance the league downgrades Sullinger's first foul as he was making a play for the ball (though he and Hickson got a little tangled shortly before the foul), but if not Sullinger will have a league-high five flagrant fouls for the season. One more and he will get a mandatory one-game suspension.
Sullinger is having a great second year with the Celtics, averaging 13.1 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game, but with a recent wrist injury and Boston's string of poor play, it's easy to see why his frustration came out on Tuesday.