Player ejected after ball tossed into stands hits fan

Minnesota Timberwolves all-star forward Kevin Garnett was ejected from an NBA game in Minneapolis after a ball he tossed into the stands hit a fan.

Garnett could face a suspension from the league. The male fan appeared stunned by the ball and was taken from the arena on a stretcher and examined by a team physician as a precaution, The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported yesterday.

The fan later walked out of the arena, the newspaper said. Garnett apologised to the fan twice for the incident, which occurred in the third quarter of Sunday's game with the Memphis Grizzlies.

"By no means was I trying to hit a fan," Garnett said. "I didn't even really look at where I tossed it, I was so mad."

Garnett said he threw the ball out of frustration with the officiating.

"I thought the call that was before that was sort of a cheap call," he told reporters. He immediately was ejected by game officials.

"I hurt my team, and I should have had a little more control than that."