AP

Utah Jazz guard Ronnie Price, left, is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf (21) during the second quarter of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal series Sunday, May 11, 2008, in Salt Lake City. Turiaf was ejected for the flagrant foul.

SALT LAKE CITY - Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf was ejected for a flagrant foul yesterday in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz.

Turiaf -- a former star for the Gonzaga Bulldogs -- knocked Utah's Ronnie Price hard to the floor as Price drove for a layup, leaving the Jazz guard with a bloody gash over his right eye.

Turiaf came down hard with his left arm and Price went straight down and banged his head on the court. Price's teammates swarmed the officials and pushed for the flagrant call. Utah coach Jerry Sloan also came off the bench immediately after the play.

The officials conferred and kicked out Turiaf.

Price, who needed four stitches to close the cut, finished with four points, two assists and a block in Utah's 123-115 overtime victory.

Turiaf is 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, eight inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than Price.

He says he was going for a blocked shot and wasn't trying to hurt Price.