Spurs' Collins ejected after hard foul bloodies Westbrook

San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Spurs' Zach Collins ejected after hard foul bloodies Lakers' Russell Westbrook

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 11/26/22

Things got heated in San Antonio after a hard foul from Spurs' Zach Collins bloodied the face of Los Angeles Lakers' Russell Westbrook.

With two minutes left in the third quarter, Collins smashed Westbrook on the top of the head as he attempted to put back his own rebound. With blood pouring down his forehead, an incensed Westbrook went after Collins before being pulled out of the melee by LeBron James.

Russell Westbrook starts bleeding following a flagrant 2 foul from Zach Collins

@BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/cerfwNHhCk
— Sporting News NBA (@sn_nba) November 27, 2022

Officials ruled the foul a Flagrant 2 and ejected Collins from the game.

The Lakers later announced that Westbrook's wounds didn't require stitches, and he returned to the game.

Westbrook and James were cooking before the confrontation with Collins, hooking up for a sweet alley-oop right before halftime.

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More angles!! pic.twitter.com/xnPInGHGEy
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 27, 2022

The Lakers were ultimately victorious in a shootout over the Spurs, 143-138. Westbrook finished 4-of-12 for 11 points, with six assists, seven rebounds and a block coming off the bench. Meanwhile, James posted a game-high 39 points while adding 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.

Heading into Saturday night, Westbrook led the Lakers with 7.5 assists per game. Through 16 games, the 34-year-old is averaging 15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

After snapping a five-game losing streak earlier this month, Los Angeles has won four of its last five games, improving to 6-11.

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