LeBron, Stewart earn suspensions
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has been suspended for one game and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart was suspended two games for their roles in an ugly incident during Sunday’s Lakers-Pistons game.
The NBA announced the suspensions Monday, and both will affect games Tuesday. James will not play when the Lakers visit Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks. Stewart will miss the Pistons’ home game against Miami on Tuesday and their game Wednesday at Milwaukee.
It is the first suspension in the 19-year career of James, who has won four NBA titles with three teams.
The Lakers and Pistons meet again Sunday in Los Angeles.
Stewart, the NBA said, was disciplined for “escalating an on-court altercation by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing … James in an unsportsmanlike manner.” James merited the suspension “for recklessly hitting Stewart in the face and initiating an on-court altercation,“the NBA said.
The incident happened in the third quarter as James and Stewart were jostling for position during a free throw. Their arms appeared to get intertwined and James swung his elbow, making contact with Stewart, who quickly had blood streaming from above his eye.
Cooler heads seemed to prevail, for a moment. Stewart was guided away from the spot where the contact occurred by teammates and coaches, though he appeared to become more incensed along the way. He then tried to double back and run toward where James was. A number of people again blocked his path and made sure the ugly incident didn’t get uglier.
Stewart was assessed two technical fouls, James was assessed a flagrant foul 2, and both players were ejected from the game.
SUNS 115, SPURS 111
Devin Booker had 23 points, Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Phoenix won its 13th straight, rolling past host San Antonio.
San Antonio’s Dejounte Murray had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his seventh career tripledouble. But the Spurs have now lost five straight for their second-worst start in franchise history.
BUCKS 123, MAGIC 92
Jrue Holiday scored 18 points, and Milwaukee opened the biggest halftime lead in franchise history on its way to a rout of visiting Orlando.
The Bucks’ 77-36 lead at the break also was Orlando’s biggest halftime deficit ever. Milwaukee eventually built the margin to 51, becoming the first team to lead a game by at least 50 this season.
HORNETS 109 WIZARDS 103
Terry Rozier scored a season-high 32 points and hit his eighth 3-pointer of the game with 12.9 seconds remaining as Charlotte won at Washington. LaMelo Ball had 28 points and 13 rebounds to help Charlotte earn its sixth victory in the last seven games.
PACERS 109, BULLS 77
Domantas Sabonis scored 21 points, Malcolm Brogdon had 16, and Indiana routed host Chicago.
HAWKS 113, THUNDER 101
Trae Young scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, Clint Capela finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds and Atlanta closed a perfect five-game homestand with a victory over Oklahoma City.
GRIZZLIES 119, JAZZ 118
Jaren Jackson scored a season-high 26 points, winning a jump ball and hitting a 3-pointer in the final seconds, to lift Memphis to a victory at Utah.
NETS 117, CAVALIERS 112
Kevin Durant returned to Brooklyn’s lineup and scored 27 points, James Harden added 14 points and a season-high 14 assists and Brooklyn won at Cleveland.
T-WOLVES 110, PELICANS 96
Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points, and Minnesota extended its winning streak to four with a victory at New Orleans.
76ERS 102, KINGS 94
Tyrese Maxey had 24 points, and Philadelphia won at Sacramento, spoiling Alvin Gentry’s debut as interim Kings coach.