Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford avoids suspension and further discipline from the league following his flagrant foul 2 and ejection in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The all-star was ejected with 34 seconds left in the first half of a close and crucial game on Sunday after a scuffle with the Cavs' Mathew Dellavedova. In a rebound play, both players were fighting for possession when Dellavedova fell backward into the right knee of Horford. The big man retaliated with an elbow in what he perceived as an intentional and malicious play from the point guard, according to USA Today Sports.

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At the time Atlanta held a 48-47 advantage with Horford leading the charge with 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting.  The Hawks will go on to lose the game, 114-111 in overtime.

According to ESPN Correspondent Dave McMenamin, NBA referee Ken Mauer explains that what they saw was an intentionally strike to the head area of Dellavedova.

"Any time that occurs, the NBA rulebook says that's a flagrant (foul) 2 and an automatic ejection," McMenamin reports.

Horford had some strong words after the game saying Dellavedova has a "track record" for trying to cause physical harm to opposing players.

Yahoo! Sports reported that earlier in the playoffs, Dellavedova's scrappy plays also figured in similar incidents with Chicago's Taj Gibson and Hawks three-point specialist Kyle Korver, who suffered a high ankle sprain and has been ruled out to play for the rest of the post season.

Cleveland superstar, Lebron James, in defense of his teammate, said "Delly" just knows one way to play and that is to play hard. He also explained that "physicality" has been the trademark of their series with the Hawks.

Whatever the intention was, Atlanta has been pushed to the brink of elimination. Horford and company will try to avoid the sweep on Tuesday and try to extend their series with the Cavs. James, on the other hand, is looking to build on his stellar performance and the team's momentum in Game 3 and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.

Tagsal horford, al horford ejection, Mathew Dellavedova, flagrant foul, ejection, NBA 2015, Eastern Conference Finals, Lebron James