Will Bismack Biyombo be suspended for Game 7?

Toronto Raptors center Bismack Biyombo was issued a flagrant foul for elbowing Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love in the face. Is he out Game 7?

Bismack Biyombo has been massively important for the Toronto Raptors ever since starting center Jonas Valanciunas hurt his ankle in the Eastern Conference Semifinals series versus the Miami Heat. Biyombo has dominated the glass en route to the Raptors’ first ever trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016.

However, with his flagrant foul coming in the first quarter of Game 6 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, Biyombo will miss Game 7 in Cleveland should Toronto tie the game up at three. This is because it was Biyombo’s fourth flagrant in this best-of-seven series.

On a play in the low post, Biyombo couldn’t control his elbow as he was trying to shake off Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love, effectively elbowing him in the face for the flagrant offensive foul. Biyombo’s basket didn’t count and his flagrant seriously jeopardized the Raptors’ slim chance to knock off top-seeded Cleveland in the Conference Finals.

While Biyombo isn’t the skilled offensive big man who is Valanciunas, he had befuddled both the Miami and Cleveland front courts in these Eastern Conference Playoffs. Biyombo kept Toronto in many of these tight ball games with his dynamic rebounding and clutch low post presence.

Given how well he played in the 2016 NBA Playoffs, Biyombo will command a lucrative contract in 2016 NBA free agency to bolster another team’s front court. Since he will not be available to play in a potential deciding Game 7 in Cleveland and has essentially priced his way out of a new contract with Toronto since they clearly don’t have his Bird Rights, Biyombo has almost certainly played his final game with the Raptors barring an improbable series upset by Toronto.

For more 2016 NBA Playoffs coverage, please check out our NBA Playoffs category page.