Political commentator Bill Maher experienced the NBA courtside atmosphere firsthand during a Los Angeles Lakers game against the New York Knicks, but it resulted in him being injured.
Lakers guard Marcus Smart, while battling for a loose ball, crashed into Maher who was seated off the court.
Smart tried to minimise the impact by twisting his body back towards the court.
Injuries Sustained After Courtside Collision
Both Smart and Maher seemed to be injured following the collision. Maher held up his finger to the ESPN cameras.
Play-by-play caller Dave Pasch compared Maher’s finger to that of an NFL offensive lineman.
Smart appeared to injure his left hand, which may have impacted his performance during the game.
The veteran NBA guard was seen holding his injured hand after missing a 3-point shot.
Smart later checked out of the game and looked uncomfortable.
He did eventually return to play the remainder of the contest.
Maher remained in his courtside seat for the rest of the game and didn’t require medical attention.
Smart’s Performance and Lakers’ Victory
Smart’s performance saw him shooting 1-for-10 and 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He tallied five points, four assists and two steals.
Despite Smart’s struggles, the Lakers defeated the Knicks 110-97.
LeBron James was absent from the Lakers lineup due to a ‘foot issue/ arthritis’.
The 39-25 Lakers held an opponent to under 100 points for the fourth time this season.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 35 points, eight rebounds and four assists.