LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers was suspended for one game and Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons will miss two games for his role in a nasty incident during Sunday’s game between the two teams.
The NBA announced the suspensions on Monday, and both will affect games scheduled for Tuesday. James will not play when the Lakers visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Stewart will miss the Pistons’ home game against Miami on Tuesday and Wednesday’s game in Milwaukee.
James will lose 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 will meet again on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Stewart, the NBA said, was punished for “escalating an altercation on the floor by repeatedly and aggressively pursuing … James in an unsportsmanlike manner.” James deserved suspension “for recklessly striking Stewart in the face and initiating an altercation on the court.”
The incident occurred in the third quarter, when James and Stewart were fighting for position during a free throw. Their arms seemed to entwine and James twisted his elbow, making contact with Stewart, who quickly had a flow of blood above his eye. James apparently tried to defuse the situation after realizing that he had made contact with Stewart and had drawn blood.
Fortunately the cold heads prevailed, for a moment. Stewart was taken away from the place where the contact happened by his teammates and coaches, however the spirits were warming. He subsequently tried to backtrack and get closer to the point where James found himself. Several people again blocked his way and made sure that the incident did not go further.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey said Stewart needed eight stitches to close the wound, adding that he didn’t think what Stewart did in reaction to the play warranted a suspension.
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