Close Call! See Regina King Narrowly Miss Out on Getting Kicked in Head by Basketball Player

Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Regina Kingnarrowly missed a major injury.

The Oscar nominee, 48, was sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden watching the New York Knicks take on the Philadelphia 76ers when the action got a little too close for comfort.

As the ball sailed out of bounds in the third quarter, Sixers star player Joel Embiid, 24, leapt for it — and right at King. The skilled athlete was able to get enough air to clear over King’s head, though his foot touched her hair in a high bun.

The moment is even scarier slowed down as it looks like Embiid’s foot is going straight at her face — just a week and a half before the actress is set to attend the Academy Awards where she’s nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance inIf Beale Street Could Talk.

“Yoooo. Thank you God and @JoelEmbiid for your athletic abilities. Crisis averted,” Kinglater tweeted alongside video of the incident, adding the prayer hands emoji. Though Embiid didn’t respond, he did like the tweet.

The basketball player commented on the incident after the game, where he expressed regret at landing on the statistician working the broadcast who was sitting behind King.

“It’s good that I saved her life, I guess, but someone else had to, like, take that,” Embiid said,according toESPN. “I’m sorry about that.”

The 91st Academy Awards air live on ABC at 8 p.m. on Feb. 24.

source: people.com