LeBron James has been handed a one-game suspension after an altercation with Isaiah Stewart during Sunday's clash between the LA Lakers and Detroit Pistons, with Stewart handed a two-game ban.
James was ejected, for only the second time in his illustrious career, after a particularly nasty incident in the third period which left Stewart bleeding from a wound above his right eye.
He clearly caught Stewart with an elbow as they battled for position at a free-throw, but Stewart then escalated things and went after the perennial All-Star, drawing multiple technical fouls and also being ejected from the game.
The decision means James will miss Tuesday night's game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden for "recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation", in a decision announced by President of League Operations Byron Spruell.
Stewart's two-game suspension means he will miss a home date with the Miami Heat on Tuesday and Thursday's road game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 2020 draft pick was found guilty of "escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in an unsportsmanlike manner".
Pistons head coach Dwayne Casey had said after the game that he didn't believe Stewart deserved to be punished any further than his ejection after being provoked.Â
MORE STORIES
Â
