GRIZZLIES’ BROOKS GIVEN SUSPENSION
Memphis Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks was suspended for one game without pay by the NBA on Thursday for making “unnecessary and excessive contact” that resulted in a fractured elbow for Golden State’s Gary Payton II in Game 2 of the the Western Conference semifinals.
Brooks must sit out Saturday’s Game 3 with the best-of-seven series shifting to San Francisco tied at one game apiece. Payton is wearing a brace and will be sidelined indefinitely, said coach Steve Kerr, who has called the play dirty.
Payton was injured in the first quarter of Golden State’s 106-101 loss Tuesday night when Brooks hit him across the head and the guard fell awkwardly on his left arm after driving for a layup. Brooks received a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected.
The Warriors said Payton also sustained ligament and muscle damage on the play that Kerr said “broke the code” of NBA conduct.
When asked about the suspension, Kerr said, “It doesn’t matter. Gary’s out. Gary’s out for the next, foreseeable future, for weeks, that’s the only thing that matters to us . ... He’s crushed.”
Covington agrees to 2 years
The Clippers locked down one of their offseason priorities by agreeing to a two-year extension with forward Robert Covington worth $24 million.
Covington could have become an unrestricted free agent this season, entering a market with limited salary cap space around the NBA, but by taking advantage of rules that made him eligible for an extension, Covington will earn slightly more than what he could have earned from the nontaxpayer midlevel exception.
Covington was acquired Feb. 4 in a deal with Portland that also netted the Clippers guard Norman Powell (Lincoln High). Covington made a franchise-record 11 threepointers in a game against Milwaukee in April.
Embiid out for Game 3
Philadelphia and Dallas head home trying to stay in conference semifinal series against the top seeds — the 76ers forced again to play without Joel Embiid against Miami, and the Mavericks waiting for someone to help Luka Doncic against Phoenix.
The Sixers ruled out Embiid on Thursday for Game 3 tonight in Philadelphia with the orbital fracture sustained in the first-round clincher against Toronto.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd said after the Mavericks’ 11th consecutive loss, regular season included, against the team with the NBA’s best record: “He (Doncic) had a great game, but no one else showed.” Game 3 of the Western Conference semi is tonight in Dallas.