Noel, Sefolosha are suspended

Dallas Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha were suspended five games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.

The league announced the suspensions Tuesday. Noel’s ban will cover the final five games of the season for the lottery-bound Mavericks, starting Tuesday night against Portland.

Sefolosha had surgery on the MCL in his right knee in January and hasn’t returned. His suspension will begin in the next regular-season or playoff game when he is eligible and physically able to play.

Noel’s suspension ends a lost season for a player trying to earn a long-term contract after failed negotiations last off-season resulted in him signing the team’s qualifying offer of just $4.1 mil- lion for one year.

Noel played just 30 games, with most of the missed time coming after surgery for a torn ligament in his left thumb in December. He averaged 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in 16 minutes a game in his fourth season in the league.

Two fined for incident: The NBA fined Brooklyn Nets forward Quincy Acy $25,000 and Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond $15,000 for a shoving match that resulted in their ejections.

Drummond shoved Acy with 18.4 seconds left in the third quarter of the Nets’ 108-96 loss to the Pistons on Sunday at Barclays Center.

Acy pursued Drummond and attempted to further the altercation, which began while battling for a loose ball. Referee David Guthrie stepped in to but was pushed away by Acy.