Harden suspended for kicking James

NEW YORK (AP) – The NBA has suspended Houston star James Harden one game without pay for kicking LeBron James in the groin.

The All-Stars and Olympic teammates got entangled in the third quarter of Houston’s 105-103 victory over Cleveland on Sunday. Harden fell back to the court, then kicked his foot up into James.

Harden was given a flagrant foul 1 for the play, which the league upgraded Monday to a flagrant 2, which would have been an automatic ejection if called at the time.

An angry James said after the game that Harden’s kick was “not a basketball play” and that the league would probably look at it.

Harden will serve his suspension when the Rockets play the visiting Atlanta Hawks Tuesday.