Matthew Dellavedova Justifies Clotheslining Bradley Beal in Bucks vs. Wizards

Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova told reporters his flagrant-2 foul against Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal that resulted in an ejection was not malicious. 

"[John] Wall threw the ball up to Beal and I tried to run him off the three," Dellavedova said after the Bucks' 110-103 win on Saturday, according to the Washington Post's Candace Buckner. "He decides to drive it, so I tried to hold him up and he slipped because he went down.

"I was just trying to hold him to prevent him from getting the and-one, and then he just went to the ground." 

The foul, which occurred midway through the fourth quarter when Dellavedova appeared to clothesline Beal, can be viewed below: 

Delly Just Hooked Beal

"He plays super aggressive. Sometime overly aggressive," Beal said, per ESPN.com. "That's just his knack, ever since he came into the league. ... That play was kinda crazy. I understand you want to stop the ball, but there's a right way and a wrong way."

John Wall echoed that sentiment. 

"I give credit for him for being a hard player, that's hard-nosed," the Wizards floor general said, according to Buckner. "One of the old-school type of players that play very physical. I give him credit for that. But when it comes to doing dirty plays, I have no respect for it."

The Bucks and Wizards will meet again Jan. 15 at Capital One Arena in what's sure to be a heated rematch.