Lu Dort struck LeBron James in the head during the LA Lakers’ Monday night victory over the OKC Thunder at the Crypto.com Arena. After falling short against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, James and the Lakers are attempting to recover against the top club in the Western Conference.

James was attempting to start the offence at the top of the arc in the video below while he possessed the ball. With around four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Dort was set up for a screen by Anthony Davis, who then drove to his left. Dort was trying to get well when Chet Holmgren pulled “The King” off the road.

James was about to steal the ball from him when the Thunder swingman struck him across the head. Darvin Ham, the coach of the Lakers, maintained that Dort should have been called for a flagrant foul, but the referees called a personal foul.

Some would contend that because Lu Dort made an unnecessary contact with LeBron James, it ought to have been a flagrant foul. Still, the referees called it a standard foul, presumably thinking Dort was merely attempting to take the ball from “The King.”

However, James and the Lakers were unaffected by the blow. They won 116-104, holding onto their lead against the OKC Thunder. Since it was the Lakers’ third victory over the Thunder this season, they emerged victorious in the season series.

It also implies that the Lakers have the Thunder beat this year, which is encouraging for the lower seed’s chances of facing each other in the first round. The Lakers might be seeded eighth if they win the Play-In Tournament, but Oklahoma City remains the best team in the West.