Lakers' Anthony Davis: 'Everyone in the league knows LeBron is not a dirty guy'

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LeBron James, Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

There was no shortage of drama at Little Ceasar's Arena as the Lakers' win over the Pistons descended into madness in the third quarter. 

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Lakers star LeBron James was ejected with 9:18 to play in the third quarter after he collected Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart with an errant elbow to the face.

MORE: LeBron James ejected after bloodying Isaiah Stewart as Lakers, Pistons scuffle

James was ejected after he was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul, with a scuffle unfolding between the pair, with Stewart not too pleased as he had to be restrained by team staff with blood streaming down his face.

It marked just the second time in LeBron's 19-year career that he's been ejected from a game, with Lakers teammate Anthony Davis telling reporters postgame that the collision wasn't intentional. 

"Everyone in the league knows LeBron is not a dirty guy," Davis said following the 121-116 win.

Davis explained postgame that James was attempting to apologize to Stewart immediately after the foul, before things kicked off.

"We're not promoting violence. I'm not promoting violence," Davis added,  Our security and their security did a hell of a job."

MORE: Lakers searching for the right lineup mix through early season struggles

The Lakers trailed 78-66 at the time of LeBron's ejection, before storming home in the fourth quarter to seal the win and bring an end to their three-game losing streak, improving to 9-9 on the season. 

"To me, it's one of the things that can change the momentum of your season," head coach Frank Vogel said postgame.

The two teams won't have much time to cool off from tonight's melee, with the Pistons traveling to Los Angeles next Sunday to take on the Lakers in what will surely be a tense rematch.

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Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.