LOS ANGELES – Dwight Howard threw a wide smile on his face before the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night and hosted their 2020 championship with former Laker teammate Danny Green.
Howard’s expression soon changed from joy to displeasure.
Howard, who was returning to Staples Center, was sent off between the first and second quarters as referee Kane Fitzgerald claimed a technical foul on Howard for intentionally entering the Lakers’ big man, Montrezl Harrell, into the bench. Philadelphia after the bell rang.
Howard and Harrell had already been called up for double technical fouls for getting tangled up with 1 minute, remaining 8 seconds in the first quarter, turning the second technology into an automatic disqualification for Howard.
Harrell pulled Howard away from him and continued on to the Lakers bench, turning to say goodbye to the three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner while defending his case 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 better discipline. I get it. I know there’s a lot of excitement. But we had a center on our team and he was kicked out. I was not very happy with that. I know it’s an emotional game. But he’s a veteran. We need to have better discipline. “
What caused the couple’s bad blood isn’t clear, but Harrell, the sixth man of the year last season while playing for the LA Clippers, might never have joined the Lakers during the offseason if Howard didn’t would have signed with the Sixers.
At the start of the free agency in November, Howard tweeted, “I stay where I belong. The Laker nation loves them all. Purple and gold never get old.”
But, in a bizarre event, he quickly removed the tweet and ended up inking a one-year, $ 2.6 million contract with Philadelphia. Later that day, the Lakers agreed to a Harrell deal for two years and $ 19 million.