Lance Stephenson has been issued a Flagrant-1 foul for tripping Milwaukee Bucks center John Henson in Monday’s win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Nothing was assessed during the game, but cameras clearly captured Stephenson sticking out his left foot to trip Henson with 5:10 to play in the Pacers’ 92-89 win. A flagrant was handed out Wednesday afternoon after review by the league office.
“It was an accident,” Stephenson said after a 20-point loss to the Utah Jazz Wednesday night.
“We was playing hard, I was trying to help my team win. I don’t think it was intentional. If you look at it, it looked intentional. Just running back. I don’t regret it because I ain’t do it on purpose.”
This was one of two noteworthy sequences for Stephenson, who also exchanged words with veteran guard Jason Terry throughout the game. Terry was spotted blowing into Stephenson’s ear, and then Lance returned the favor later in the game.
Stephenson picked up his seventh technical foul, which leads the team, Wednesday after a brief argument with an official to dispute being called for an offensive foul.
“They’re watching me,” he said. “It happens. Just move forward from it. I know I got seven techs, but no more techs from me. I get emotional, but I can’t afford no more techs.
“Just have to play more smart, watch what I’m saying to the refs, talk to them a little bit more respectfully. Just try not to get no more techs.”
For Stephenson, it’s his third Flagrant-1 foul — for unnecessary contact — of the season. Points are accumulated during each season and if the player’s season total exceeds 5 points, he will receive an automatic suspension following the game in which his point total exceeds 5 points and for each additional flagrant foul committed during that season.
Lance Stephenson intentionally trips John Henson pic.twitter.com/KFEv9J9NWH
— The Render (@TheRenderNBA) March 6, 2018
The Pacers return to action Wednesday night, at home against the Utah Jazz.
[Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]