James Jones Ejected For Flagrant Foul

MIAMI -- Heat reserve James Jones has been ejected from Thursday night's Miami-Chicago game after committing a flagrant foul against the Bulls' Joakim Noah.

The hit came with 6:05 left in the first half. Chicago's Luol Deng missed a 3-pointer, and Jones stretched out both arms while trying to move Noah out of the way for a rebound. Replays showed Jones made contact around Noah's head.

After conferring, referees quickly motioned that the flagrant was a penalty-2, which carries with it an automatic ejection. After reviewing the play, referee Mike Callahan confirmed that the flagrant merited the more severe designation.

Jones quietly walked off the court, shaking his head slightly. Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who sat on the scorers' table while referees reviewed the play, shouted "What?" in disbelief, and Noah clapped his hands in time with a chant from the stands.

It was the second flagrant foul and first ejection of Jones' nine-year career, according to STATS LLC.

Including his three scoreless minutes Thursday, Jones is averaging 3.2 points in 47 games this season.


(miamiherald.com)