Late in Thursday night's battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, center Boban Marjanovic took an elbow from Lance Stephenson on a drive to the basket that potentially changed the game.
Stephenson scored the fast-break layup on a feed from LeBron James while getting hit by Marjanovic, who was assessed a personal foul. The Serbian big man landed on the floor in pain and no one understood why until the replays appeared on the Jumbotron showing Stephenson extending his left arm into Marjanovic's face. Within seconds, the feeling from everyone inside Staples Center was that Stephenson's three-point opportunity would likely be wiped away and the Lakers guard would be hit with at least an offensive foul and a technical foul.
Instead, the referees reviewed the play on their monitors and, after a few minutes, determined that there was no hostile act deserving of the technical or flagrant foul on Stephenson.
Here’s the full clip of the Lance Stephenson elbow to Boban Marjanovic’s face, the replays that referees were reviewing, and Doc Rivers’ reaction after the review. #Clippers #Lakers pic.twitter.com/y9wI0Xcrrp
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 1, 2019
This is a foul on Boban Marjanovic and an and-1 opportunity for Lance Stephenson. Makes zero sense. #Clippers #Lakers pic.twitter.com/lMmSH11Ba3
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 1, 2019
Stephenson went on to knock down the free throw, giving the Lakers a five-point cushion they wouldn't relinquish with about 45 seconds left.
Stephenson finished with 20 points and three rebounds off the Lakers' bench while Boban Marjanovic added 11 points and five rebounds. Both L.A. teams now head out on their annual Grammy road trips just before the All-Star break.
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