Orlando forward Quentin Richardson has been ejected from the Magic’s game at Charlotte after hitting the Bobcats’ Gerald Henderson in the face with both hands in a scuffle along the baseline.
Henderson was trying to dribble out of pressure early in the fourth quarter of a tight game Wednesday night when Richardson was called for a foul. Apparently upset over an elbow from Henderson earlier in the play, Richardson confronted Henderson and appeared to poke him in his right eye.
Henderson shoved him to get away before Richardson put both open hands on Henderson’s face and jerked his head backward.
Richardson was ejected and Henderson received a technical foul. Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu and Charlotte’s Kwame Brown also got technicals in the ensuing scuffle.
The incident occurred with 8:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. At the time of the incident, the Bobcats were leading the Magic by two points. The game ended up going to overtime. If Dwight Howard’s 18th technical is not overturned, he will not be available for the Magic’s game against the Chicago Bulls, so Orlando fans have to be hoping that Richardson won’t be suspended by the NBA for the shove.