Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre has been suspended for Game 4 of his team’s series against the Celtics after he knocked over Boston forward Kelly Olynyk during the second quarter of Game 3 on Thursday.
Oubre’s punishment was so unsurprising that even the 21-year-old forward himself thought he earned it. Via ESPN:
“I’m not surprised,” he said after practice Saturday. “The league has to do what they have to do. They have to handle that situation.”
Oubre shoved Olynyk to the ground after the Celtics big man set a physical—and illegal—screen. He assessed a flagrant 2 fould and immediately ejected. Here’s the play:
Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kelly Olynyk getting into it. 😳👀
— NBA SKITS (@NBA_Skits) May 5, 2017
Though Oubre took responsibility for his actions, he didn’t exactly forgive Olynyk for role in instigating the tussle.
“I’ve been hit in the head multiple times by the same person,” Oubre told reporters. “I’ve confronted [Olynyk] about it. The last time it happened, I fell, I felt pain in my head and my jaw, and I got up and I ran to him and I bumped him.”
Olynyk, who is perhaps best known for attempting to yank off Kevin Love’s arm in the 2015 playoffs, probably had something coming, but Oubre should probably know better than to floor a guy in the middle of a postseason series.
Anyway, the Wizards will miss Oubre in Game 4, as they attempt to tie the series at two games apiece. He’s averaging 6.3 points per game in 17.4 minutes per game off the bench in the postseason. His playing time in Game 4 could go to some combination of Bojan Bogdanovic or Jason Smith.
Oubre will be back for Game 5, in what should be an interesting reunion with Olynyk.
[ESPN]
