Harden suspended one game for kicking James in the groin

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Toyota Center in Houston, Feb 27, 2015. [Photo/Agencies & Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports]

NEW YORK - The NBA has suspended Houston star James Harden one game without pay for kicking LeBron James in the groin.

The All-Stars and Olympic teammates became tangled in the third quarter of Houston's 105-103 victory over Cleveland on Sunday and Harden fell back to the court, then kicked his foot up into James.

Harden was given a flagrant foul 1 for the play, which the league upgraded Monday to a flagrant 2, which would have been an automatic ejection if called at the time.

An angry James said after the game that Harden's kick was "not a basketball play" and that the league would probably look at it.

Harden, the NBA's leading scorer and a top Most Valuable Player candidate, won't play when the Rockets visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.