No Suspension For Wade, Expected To Play In Game 3
INDIANAPOLIS (CBS) - The NBA decided on Sunday not to suspend the Heat's Dwyane Wade for his forearm to Lance Stephenson's head in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Wade was assessed a flagrant foul, penalty-one for the incident, according to CBS Sports. No other upgrades or downgrades of foul situations were warranted, league officials decided.
Before the decision was out, Stephenson resisted calling the play dirty, instead saying it was "surprising" and that it "took him off guard." His teammates didn't seem to be so forgiving.
"It was an uncalled for play," said Paul George. "Whatever the league does about that situation, for what he did to Lance, it's well deserved whatever the punishment is."
The Pacers' hands weren't clean in this situation, though. David West caught Mario Chamlers with an elbow in the third quarter of Game 2, injuring Chalmers' left shoulder.
"I think it was a little bit of a shot, but hey," Chalmers said. The Heat's point guard had the shoulder wrapped heavily but said he's fine and will play.
The series has been physical and chippy, but Pacers coach Frank Vogel said he's stressing to his team to avoid any desire to retaliate or extracurricular plays.
"I think extracurriculars can get you beat," he said. "If you get a technical foul for an extracurricular, that's a point. In this series, that's going to be a difference-maker. So we're not interested in anything after the whistle, anything during live play that could be costly. We're trying to play good, hard physical basketball and every point matters."
The Pacers and Heat are tied at 1.
