The White House confirmed that Obama was hammered by an errant elbow in a game with friends at Fort McNair in southwest Washington, D.C.
The historic Army post is a favorite basketball haunt when Obama is in town on the weekend.
"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," press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
"They were done in the doctor's office located on the ground floor of the White House," Gibbs added.
Medical aides who treated Obama used a smaller filament than typically used, which increases the number of stitches but makes a tighter stitch and results in a smaller scar.
Obama was given a local anesthetic while receiving the stitches.
The White House didn't release a list of the combatants, but his pals on the court often include personal aide Reggie Love and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
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