Obama needs dozen stitches in lip after basketball game

President Obama got a dozen stitches in his upper lip Friday after a morning basketball game with aide Reggie Love and family members who had flown in for the Thanksgiving holiday.

“After being inadvertently hit with an opposing player’s elbow in the lip while playing basketball with friends and family, the President received 12 stitches today administered by the White House Medical Unit,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statements. “They were done in the doctor’s office located on the ground floor of the White House.”

The offending elbow was revealed to be that of Rey Decerega, who is the director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

“I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a good sport. I enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back out on the court again soon,” Decerega said in a statement.

It “happened in the fifth of five games they played,” according to the White House. Obama was playing defense when the player turned to take a shot and hit the president.

Neither Love nor Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who was also playing with the president, were said to be the ower of the offending elbow.

According to the White House pool report, doctors used a smaller needle that increased the number of stitches but is intended to reduce the size of the scar.

Obama received a local anesthetic for the stitches, according to the report. The president often plays basketball at Fort McNair on weekends.

He was seen by reporters in a White House window with an ice pack over his mouth.

This post was updated at 5:35 p.m.