Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer believes that the decision to eject Al Horford from game three of his side's series against Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals was a difficult call.

Horford was removed from the match just before the end of the second quarter when he was adjudged to have elbowed Matthew Dellavedova in the head.

Budenholzer feels that the call was difficult to make at first blush, but could not point blame at the officials for coming to the decision to eject the Hawks man.

Atlanta went on to lose the game in overtime as LeBron James guided the Cavaliers to a 114-111 win to give his side a 3-0 lead in the series.

"I think the team responded well, obviously competing and giving ourselves a chance. I think Al is very, just like all of us, proud of the effort of his teammates," Budenholzer told reporters.

"I've looked at the play, and officiating in our league is very difficult. From the replays, for me, it's somewhat difficult to see whether his elbow hits the shoulder first or hits the head first.

"If he [Horford] hits the [Dellavedova] shoulder first, then I think it's not something that's an action that deserves ejection. If he hit him in the head, then it's an action that deserves ejection."

The Hawks have to win the next match on Tuesday to keep the series alive.