LEBRON GETS 1 GAME, STEWART 2
LeBron James of the Lakers was suspended for one game and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart 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 on today. 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 today and their game Wednesday at Milwaukee.
James will forfeit about $284,000 in salary, while Stewart will lose about $45,000. 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, and James and Stewart will both be eligible to play.
Stewart, the NBA said, was disciplined for “escalating an oncourt 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 oncourt altercation,” the NBA said.
The incident happened in the third quarter, starting when 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. James, it appeared, attempted to defuse the situation after realizing he’d made contact with Stewart and drawn blood.
It didn’t take long for most of the players from both teams — along with the referees, coaches and security personnel — to join
the fray and try to keep James and Stewart separated. Within 25 seconds of the contact being made by James, there were at least 25 people on the f loor. Referee Phenizee Ransom attached himself to James.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey said Stewart needed eight stitches to close the wound, adding that he did not think what Stewart did in reaction to the play merited a suspension.
“His eye got cracked all the way open. He was upset for a reason,” Casey said.
Monday’s games
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 visiting Brooklyn beat Cleveland.
Hornets 109, Wizards 103:
Terry Rozier scored a seasonhigh 32 points and hit his eighth 3-pointer of the game with 12.9 seconds left as Charlotte beat host Washington.
Celtics 108, Rockets 90:
Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Jaylen Brown had 19 in his return from missing eight games with an injury and host Boston coasted by Houston, sending the Rockets to their 15th straight loss.
Pacers 109, Bulls 77: Domantas Sabonis scored 21 points, Malcolm Brogdon added 16 more, and Indiana routed host Chicago. Myles Turner also scored 12 points and hauled in 10 rebounds in Indiana’s second straight win.
Bucks 123, Magic 92: Jrue Holiday scored 18 points and host Milwaukee opened the biggest halftime lead in franchise history on its way to a blowout of Orlando. The Bucks’ 77-36 lead at the break also was Orlando’s biggest halftime deficit ever.
Timberwolves 110, Pelicans 96: Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 10 rebounds, and visiting Minnesota extended its winning streak to four.
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.
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 visiting Memphis to a victory over Utah.
Ja Morant had 32 points and Desmond Bane added a careerhigh 28 as the Grizzlies scored the final seven points for their third win in their last four games.
76ers 102, Kings 94: Tyrese Maxey had 24 points and shorthanded Philadelphia beat host Sacramento, spoiling Alvin Gentry’s debut as interim Kings coach.
Shake Milton scored 16 points and Matisse Thybulle added 15, helping the Sixers to their second win in eight games. Andre Drummond had nine points and 23 rebounds.