Clippers suspend Griffin for punch
The Clippers suspended Blake Griffin four games without pay Tuesday for punching a team staff member. His salary will be withheld for an additional game because he broke his shooting hand.
In all, Griffin will lose $ 859,442 from his season salary of $ 18,907,725.
A team spokesman said the suspension will begin when Griffin is healthy, cleared to play and active. He was expected to be out four to six weeks.
The Clippers will donate Griffin’s salary from the five games to charities that help disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. The team said Griffin asked to donate his time to the organizations. Karl stays: George Karl will continue as the Kings’ head coach, general manager Vlade Divic said after meeting with Karl in Philadelphia on Tuesday, just one day after Karl’s firing appeared imminent.
“George is our coach and we’re collectively working through our issues,” Divac said in a statement. Butler, Marc Gasol injured: Chicago guard Jimmy Butler will miss the next three to four weeks with a strained left knee and will be replaced as a reserve in this weekend’s All- Star Game by teammate Pau Gasol.
Meanwhile, Gasol’s brother, Marc, will be out indefinitely with a broken bone in his right foot, the Grizzlies said. Tuesday’s games: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard added 23 and the visiting Spurs got seven points on one fourth- quarter possession in topping the Heat 119- 101. Dwyane Wade scored 20 points on 9- for- 12 shooting for Miami. Hassan Whiteside was assessed a flagrant- 2 for elbowing the Spurs’ Boban Marjanovic as they tried to get position for a rebound. That was part of a seven- point trip for the Spurs, who pushed an 87- 80 lead to 94- 80 in 16 seconds and weren’t threatened again. ... Gordon Hayward hit a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer in overtime and Utah extended its season- best winning streak to seven games with a 121- 119 win at Dallas. The Jazz’s Rodney Hood had a game- high 29 points. Chandler Parsons scored 24 for the Mavericks. ... John Wall had 28 points and 17 assists, Bradley Beal scored 26, and the visiting Wizards topped the Knicks 111- 108. Carmelo Anthony had 33 points and 13 rebounds for New York in its first game under interim head coach Kurt Rambis. ... Khris Middleton made one of two foul shots with 0.6 of a second left and host Milwaukee defeated Boston 112- 111. Greg Monroe had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks. Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley each had 18 points for the Celtics.