The Los Angeles Lakers never led in Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, the second consecutive game that has occurred. With the team winning only three of its first 20 games this season, there is sure to be some anger building up, and it hit a boiling point for Nick Young.
Young was fouled hard on a drive in the fourth quarter and shoved Pistons forward Anthony Tolliver into the stands, which eventually earned him a Flagrant-2 and ejection.
After the 111-91 loss in Detroit, Young said that frustration played a part in his reaction according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN:
Nick Young on his push, ejection: "It's tough, man. There's a lot of frustration…and it's building up."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) December 7, 2015
Young did put the blame on himself for his reaction, but also said that he did not punch Tolliver according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
Nick Young insisted he only pushed Tolliver and not punched him. Young faulted himself for losing his cool
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 7, 2015
The distinction between a push and a punch could be the difference in whether Young is suspended for the Lakers next game which comes against the Toronto Raptors. If the NBA determines that it was a punch, Young will surely be sitting for at least the next game.
This game was Young’s first action in the last three games, but he has played well so far this season and is shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range. This much losing is going to take its toll, however, even for someone as happy as Young normally is.
