F Jackson denies ‘firing’ at Clippers fan

Suns rookie forward Josh Jackson said he was not firing an imaginary gun at a Clippers fan during Phoenix’s 42point loss to Los Angeles on Saturday.

Video of the incident shows Jackson appearing to “pull a trigger” at the fan and mouth a profanity as he came off the court.

“That’s what most people thought I was going but I actually wasn’t making a gun,” Jackson said, adding he has seen the video. “I kind of wanted to put up the middle finger to him but I didn’t do that because I felt like I was really being watched so I kind of halfway did it.”

Jackson said he doesn’t regret making the hand gesture. He said the fan had been heckling him all game.

“He called me a few names as I was coming out of the game so that’s what really set me off,” Jackson said. “But it had been going on from the same guy the entire game. Fans can come and sit so close and say whatever they want to say and us as players can’t react in any type of way. It’s something I’m still learning.”

Jackson said he has not heard from the NBA about a possible fine but that, “whatever consequence comes I’m ready for it.”

General Manager Ryan McDonough said the NBA has reached out to Jackson. Tim Frank, the league’s senior vice president of basketball communications, said in an email that, “If there is anything to announce we will announce it.”

Lineup changes

Interim coach Jay Triano already has made his mark on the Suns.

Triano said Monday that he would change the starting lineup former coach Earl Watson used the first three games. Mike James will start for the absent Eric Bledsoe at point guard and Marquese Chriss will start at power forward, with Josh Jackson moving to the bench.