Andrew Bogut hit with NBA ban for fighting
Australian centre Andrew Bogut of the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers guard Mo Williams have each been suspended one game without pay for fighting by the NBA after a weekend altercation.
The Aussie big man, who averages 7.1 points and 9.4 rebounds a game as well as 1.7 blocked shots and 2.4 assists a contest, will miss the Warriors’ game on Tuesday at New Orleans as a result of the ban.
On Monday, Bogut touched off a series of shoves in which several players had to be restrained when he swung a right elbow that connected with Portland centre Joel Freeland’s jaw after a basket as both men were jostling for position for a potential rebound.
Williams charged into the middle of the dispute and had to be restrained as teammates of both big men escalated the tensions.
The incident came in the third quarter and Golden State leading 79-71 before the visiting Trail Blazers rallied to defeat the Warriors 113-101.
In addition to the bans, the NBA imposed fines for escalating the incident on Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge ($US45,000 ($A49,188.39), Portland guard Wesley Matthews ($US20,000 ($A21,861.51) and Golden State forward Draymond Green (US$20,000).
Williams, who like Matthews and Green was ejected from the game, was banned for Portland’s Monday home game against New York.
Warriors coach Mark Jackson said his team played “bad basketball” after the altercation. “We did not respond once the altercation took place.”
Bogut said after the loss that the Trail Blazers “made us look silly out there, especially in the fourth quarter” but said his elbow would not make him the latest absentee on an injury-nagged Golden State club.
“It is OK, just a little sore, nothing too serious,” Bogut said. “A lot of guys are banged up right now and we’ve just got to try our best to stay healthy.”
The Warriors, 8-6, stand second in the Pacific division, 1.5 games behind the pace-setting Los Angeles Clippers, while the Trail Blazers lead the Northwest division at 12-2, matching San Antonio and Indiana for the most wins in the league so far this season.