While posting up Aron Baynes, who was filling in at center for Tiago Splitter, Howard began to get frustrated. After a whistle blew, he let his steam off at the referees and got hit with a technical foul.
The only problem with that was that it was his second technical of the day, so he was chucked from the game.
If you're keeping track at home, that means Los Angeles played the final 21 minutes of the game without Howard, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jodie Meeks.
Initially, Howard seemed most upset with the fact that every time he got fouled, it was an extremely hard foul. That led to him hitting back a bit harder than necessary himself.
Dwight Howard technical foul, elbowed Corey Joseph after getting fouled down low. He's had enough of the hard fouls...
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) April 28, 2013 The second technical wasn't Howard playing physical, it was his frustrations turning into yelling at referees rather than getting physical back at his opponent.
Baynes was playing about as rough as you would expect from playoff basketball, and his rough play really didn't seem to merit as much as a second look from the referees, it was the excessive reaction from Howard that turned the interaction south.
Neither Baynes nor Howard were whistled for the foul, but once the whistle was blown, Howard let loose.
Wow. Kupchak is disgusted. Rightfully so. Hell of a performance, Dwight Howard. #Lakers
— Ethan Norof (@Mr_Norof) April 29, 2013 Kobe had to come to the bench because if he sat in the locker room with Dwight he would have murdered him.
— SBNation NBA (@SBNationNBA) April 29, 2013 Apr...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
