Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks avoids suspension following ejection, Flagrant 2 vs. Lakers, LeBron James in Game 3

Memphis' Dillon Brooks has become the villain of the Lakers-Grizzlies series, but his controversial ways didn't lead to a ban in their Game 4 matchup.

Brooks was ejected in Game 3 after seemingly hitting LeBron James in the groin, the punch coming after he had none of his own on the offensive side of the ball in the matchup. Prior to his ejection, Brooks went 3-for-13 shooting with just nine points in the first half, and the Lakers ultimately took the Game 3 win, 111-101.

Brooks was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected, and his status for Game 4 was questionable in the immediate.

MORE: LeBron dusts off Brooks trash talk, Flagrant 2 foul

Brooks, though, avoided suspension, though history wasn't on his side. He led the Association with 18 technical fouls in 2022-23, with two flagrants to go along with them.

Here's the latest on Brooks' status ahead of Game 4:

Why wasn't Dillon Brooks suspended?

The NBA league office reviewed the situation, and deemed that Brooks will incur no additional penalties for making contact with LeBron in Game 4. The decision not to suspend Brooks came on Sunday afternoon, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The league office has been busy this offseason, particularly because of the Warriors-Kings series. Draymond Green was handed a one-game suspension after he stepped on the chest of Kings big man Damontas Sabonis in Game 2. The NBA's release cited Green's murky on-court history as a reason for the suspension, despite the ambiguity of the situation.

76ers star Joel Embiid also came under the spotlight, but avoided suspension after seemingly kicking Brooklyn's Nic Claxton during their series.

Brooks, though, avoided a suspension, which is somewhat surprising considering he led the NBA with 18 technical fouls during the regular season. He also had a few dust-ups with other players over the course of his career, and specifically, the 2022-23 NBA season.

Brooks' teammate Ja Morant made it clear that he wouldn't have been surprised if Brooks was handed a one-game ban for his actions in Game 3.

"With how they treat Dillon, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he is," Morant said following the game. "I felt like he was ejected because of past ejections made in games before. If you look at the play, he was actually reaching for the ball on a crossover, LeBron just went behind the back. …

"Flagrant 1? OK," Morant said. "Ejection? I don't agree with it at all."

MORE: Lakers-Grizzlies grill up more beef in playoff series

NBA flagrant points system, explained

The NBA institutes a points system designed to penalize repeat offenders.

During the playoffs, each Flagrant 1 foul is worth one point, and every Flagrant 2 foul is worth two points. If a player's playoff point total exceeds three, he receives an automatic one-game suspension.

Unlike technical fouls, the flagrant foul points do not reset. They actually grow in severity. 

• Player at two points receives Flagrant 2: One-game suspension
• Player at three or four points receives Flagrant 1: One-game suspension
• Player at three or four points receives Flagrant 2: Two-game suspension
• Player at five or more points receives Flagrant 1 or 2: Two-game suspension

When is Lakers-Grizzlies Game 4?

The Lakers and Grizzlies are set to tip off in a pivotal Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena in L.A. on Monday, April 24 at 10 p.m. ET.  The series then heads back to Memphis on Wednesday night. 

Fans in the U.S. can live stream that game and every NBA playoff game on Sling TV. which is now offering HALF OFF your first month!  Stream Sling Orange for $20 in your first month to catch all the games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.

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Lakers-Grizzlies series schedule

*If necessary