LeBron James suffers kick to the groin during Cavaliers game

Tempers flared during Sunday's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets.

It all started early in the third quarter when LeBron James and Houston's Patrick Beverley had to be separated after the two ended up in a brief skirmish on the court.

But things only got worse from there, when at the end of the quarter, Rockets guard James Harden took an obvious kick at James' groin.

The two had battled for possession, when Harden ended up on the ground and delivered the kick to James.

The superstar obviously wasn't happy about this and the two teams exchanged heated words.

"Obviously that's not a basketball play," James commented afterward, "the league will probably take a look at it. I have no idea why he would do that, but two competitors just trying to go at it, and he won this one."

Harden also chalked the incident up to competition, saying, "he's a very good friend off the court. Obviously it's a battle and just trying to win a basketball game. Just competition against one of the best players in the world."

Harden got hit with a flagrant foul on the play while his teammate Corey Brewer and Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson both received technicals.