Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was removed from Tuesday night's preseason game against New Orleans after being run into by a Pelicans player on the sideline.
Late in the second quarter, Pelicans guard Langston Galloway was chasing a loose ball near press row when he lost control and tumbled into Budenholzer, who was wearing a soft cast on his right hand following surgery for a broken finger. Unable to brace himself because of the cast, the coach fell hard into the first row of chairs behind him.
MORE: 8 NBA players with the most to prove in 2016-17
Budenholzer, shaken up, needed to be escorted to the locker room. He was OK, according to the Hawks, and remained in the arena, but did not return for the second half.
Lead assistant Darvin Ham took over coaching duties.
Budenholzer's counterpart, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, had to skip the game because of "stomach discomfort."
