The Atlanta Hawks fell down a virtually insurmountable 3-0 hole Sunday night in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and All-Star big man Al Horford was ejected for elbowing Cavs defensive irritant Matthew Dellavedova in the dome after the Aussie fell into his knee.

Horford insists there was no malicious intent when he dropped the People’s Elbow on Delly, but that the 24-year-old guard needs to learn about the NBA brotherhood and its code.

Al Horford on Matthew Dellavedova: "I don't think that it was malicious, but he's gotta learn." (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/LYg1lAqoYc — SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) May 25, 2015

Al Horford says he thought Dellavedova went after him but he should've handled it better. "He has to learn it's a brotherhood here" – Al — Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 25, 2015

Dellavedova, you’ll recall, ended Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver’s postseason after inadvertently falling onto his right leg—severely spraining the ankle—in Game 2.

Kyle Korver suffered a "severe high right ankle sprain" on this play during Game 2: WATCH » http://t.co/5GC4iHftje pic.twitter.com/kgmF30TpMi — NBA.com (@NBAcom) May 23, 2015

Horford finished with 14 points in 19 minutes of action.

Per the AJC and Akron Beacon Journal: