Max Strus randomly headbutts Scottie Barnes in Cavaliers-Raptors Game 7, lucky to avoid flagrant 2 ejection

With Game 7 in the balance Sunday, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus randomly headbutted Toronto Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes.

Strus was issued a flagrant 1 foul after a replay review. He was lucky to have avoided a flagrant 2 penalty and an ejection. The Cavaliers led by 15 at the time of the headbutt and went on to a 114-102 win to eliminate the Raptors and advance to the second round of the playoffs.

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What was Max Strus thinking?

The incident took place late in the third quarter as the Cavaliers held a 76-61 lead. Cleveland had just scored a bucket, and Barnes took the inbounds pass under the basket on Toronto’s ensuing possession.

Then — apparently unprovoked — Strus leaned down and drove the crown of his head into Barnes’ chin.

Here’s the full sequence.

Officials immediately blew the play dead before the NBC broadcast realized what had happened. Stus was initially called for a personal foul that was upgraded to a flagrant 1 upon review.

Strus pleaded his case before the review, but it’s hard to explain it as anything other than what it was — an unprovoked headbutt to the face of an opponent.

The result of the flagrant 1 foul was two free throws for Barnes and retention of possession by the Raptors.

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Barnes hit both free throws and then hit a jump shot for a four-point possession that cut Cleveland’s lead 76-65. But could have ended up much worse for Strus and the Cavaliers.

It’s difficult to argue that Strus’ headbutt was any sort of basketball play. It could have — and probably should have — resulted in a flagrant 2 penalty and Strus’ ejection.

But Strus was allowed to remain in the game as the Cavaliers and Raptors battled down the stretch with a trip to the second round of the playoffs at stake. He finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 30 minutes off the bench.

The Cavaliers advance to take on the Detroit Pistons in the second round. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Detroit (7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network).