Denver's Jones assessed flagrant foul for tripping

The National Basketball Association assessed Denver's Dahntay Jones a flagrant foul on Tuesday, a day after he tripped Lakers star Kobe Bryant in game four of the Western Conference finals.

The match officials, which Denver won 120-101 didn't call a foul on the play, which had Lakers coach Phil Jackson fuming after the game.

"Just unacceptable defense," Jackson called Jones's move, "tripping guys and playing unsportsmanlike basketball."

Jackson said he believed Jones tripped Bryant deliberately.

"It's not the first time it has happened in this series."

Bryant didn't go as far.

"I just fell on my face for no reason," he said when asked if he thought he was tripped. "I'm a klutz."

Denver's victory tied the best-of-seven series at two games apiece, with the Lakers to host game five on Wednesday.

Meanwhile the league rescinded a flagrant foul called against Orlando guard Andrew Johnson for elbowing Cleveland's Mo Williams in game three of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the second quarter of Orlando's victory, when Johnson drove the lane and stuck out his elbow, striking Williams near the left eye.

Williams, who required four stitches, was called for a blocking foul, and Johnson was assessed a flagrant foul.

The Magic took a 2-1 series lead into game four on Tuesday.