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Harden suspended 1 game for kicking LeBron

Bill Baptist / National Basketball Association / Getty

Houston Rockets star James Harden has been suspended one game without pay by the NBA for kicking LeBron James in the groin area during Sunday's overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers

He will miss Tuesday's game against the East-leading Atlanta Hawks.

Harden used his foot to shove James during a tie-up for the ball in the third quarter of Sunday's 105-103 Houston overtime victory. He was assessed a flagrant foul at the time, but the NBA upgraded the foul from a flagrant-1 to a flagrant-2 on Monday.

James Harden Kicks LeBron James In The Groin

"Obviously that's not a basketball play," James said after the game Sunday, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "Obviously, the league will probably take a look at it. I have no idea why he would do that, but two competitors just trying to go at it, and he won this one."

Harden, who was unavailable for media comment Monday, now has three flagrant-foul points from the league this season. If he reaches five, he'll receive an automatic one-game suspension.

Tuesday will mark the first game he has missed a game this season, something Houston wouldn't want to see too much of. The MVP candidate leads the NBA in scoring and the Rockets in assists and steals. 

However, a Tuesday suspension may work out well for Harden. He had been listed as probable for the game with a left shoulder contusion, and the rest may come in handy. He has played through leg issues this season.

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