The Sixers’ James Harden was eliminated from Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets after hitting Royce O’Neale below the belt

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Guard James Harden was thrown out of Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets Thursday night after hitting Royce O’Neale below the belt while driving to the basket. Officials gave Harden a flagrant 2-foul, which is an automatic ejection, forcing the Sixers guard to return to the dressing room at the end of the third quarter.

The game took place as Harden tried to drive past O’Neale and stretched out his arm to make some space. In doing so, however, Harden hit O’Neale in the groin and officers first called out a charge and, upon verification, gave him a flagrant 2.

Here’s how the piece broke down:

Harden and the rest of the Sixers were stunned by the call, especially after only Joel Embiid was there earlier in the game received a flagrant 1 for kicking Nic Claxton in the groin as he lay on the floor. It also doesn’t help that Harden was Philadelphia’s most productive player up to this point in the game, fielding 21 points on 8 of 15 from the field.

When Harden left the game, the Sixers were down 80-76 in the third quarter with 13 seconds remaining. That he didn’t finish the game is a huge blow to a Philly team that was a mess all night.