Debate follows Livingston ejection

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Debate will rage in the wake of Shaun Livingston being ejected Sunday for making contact with an official in the second quarter of the Warriors-Heat game in Miami.

There should be no debate, though, about why the contact occurred.

That was on Courtney Kirkland, the crew chief and the referee who tossed Livingston with 6:24 left in he second quarter.

Though it is clear Livingston’s vehement arguing touched off the incident. He missed a shot on which felt he had been fouled by Miami’s Tyler Johnson, and let Kirkland know about it in very heated fashion.

For that, Livingston deserved a technical foul.

But as Livingston was backing away from the official, Kirkland was advancing upon the veteran guard. On Kirkland’s third step forward, the top of his head gently bumped into Livingston’s lowered forehead.

That was the actual contact, the two men gently butting heads, that resulted in Kirkland reaching for his whistle and telling Livingston he was done for the day.

Perhaps Livingston wasn’t backing away quickly enough?

The NBA office will review the incident and issue a ruling, probably Monday.

It will be interesting to see what, if any, further action is taken.

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