LOS ANGELES – Dwight Howard put a big smile on his face before the Philadelphia 76ers face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, receiving the 2020 championship ring with former Laker teammate Danny Green.
It didn’t take long for Howard’s expression to change from joy to anger.
Howard, returning to Staples Center, was sent off between the first and second quarters because referee Kane Fitzgerald requested a technical foul from Howard for intentionally entering the Lakers, Montrezl Harrell, on his way to Philadelphia. the buzzer rang.
Howard and Harrell had already been called up for double technical errors because they messed with 1 minute, with 8 seconds left in the first quarter, making the second technology an automatic disqualification for Howard.
Harrell removed Howard from him and continued to the Lakers bench, returning to say goodbye to the three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner as he pleaded with Fitzgerald.
The Sixers won 109-101.
“I just thought it was a very selfish play,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said of Howard. “You have one technology, you can’t get another. We just have to have a better discipline. I understand it. I know there are a lot of emotions. But we had a center in our team and he was fired. I wasn’t very happy. “I know it’s an emotional game. But he’s a veteran. We need to have better discipline.”
What caused the pair’s bad blood is unclear, but Harrell, the sixth man last season while playing for the LA Clippers, may never have joined the Lakers out of season if Howard hadn’t. signed with Sixers.
At the beginning of the free agency, in November, Howard posted on Twitter: “I stay exactly where I belong. The Laker Nation loves everyone. Violet and gold never age. ”
However, in a bizarre incident, he quickly deleted the tweet and ended up with a one-year, $ 2.6 million contract with Philadelphia. Later that day, the Lakers agreed to a $ 19 million two-year deal with Harrell.