NBA – Dirk takes down AK-47, Jazz still win (+ video)

SALT LAKE CITY (NBA) - A hard foul by Germany international Dirk Nowitzki on Russia’s Andrei Kirilenko is making headlines in North America after the latter had to leave the game and go to hospital with a suspected hip injury.

X-rays proved negative and Kirilenko returned to the arena to watch the Jazz overcome 23 points from Nowitzki to win 116-110 on Monday night.

When asked about the foul on Kirilenko, Nowitzki said: “Tough situation.

“He pump-faked me under the hoop and I left my feet and I didn’t want to give up the ‘and 1,’ so I tried to grab him and unfortunately grabbed him around the neck. Things went so fast.”

When Kirilenko, the MVP of EuroBasket 2007, went to the line to take his free throws, Nowitzki apologized.

Kirilenko was soon stretchered off and taken to the hospital and Nowitzki, last year’s NBA MVP, heard boos for the remainder of the contest.

Utah blew a 21-point first-half lead but had a decisive 16-0 run in the fourth quarter to prevail.

Nowitzki and Kirilenko were the FIBA Europe Players of the Year in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

In Monday’s other games, the New Orleans Hornets defeated the New York Knicks 100-88 in the Big Apple and Philadelphia rolled to a 106-80 triumph at the Los Angeles Clippers.

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