J.R. Smith suspended, New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been suspended for Game 4 of the Knicks-Celtics playoff series for throwing an elbow that struck the chin of Boston's Jason Terry in Game 3, the NBA announced Saturday night.
Smith was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' win against Boston on Friday after hitting Terry in the face with an elbow. Referees ruled it a flagrant-foul 2. The league reviews all flagrant fouls in the regular season and postseason and has the option to reclassify the foul, impose a fine or suspend a player.
Smith was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Knicks' win against Boston on Friday after hitting Terry in the face with an elbow. Referees ruled it a flagrant-foul 2. The league reviews all flagrant fouls in the regular season and postseason and has the option to reclassify the foul, impose a fine or suspend a player.
In a statement, the NBA said it suspended Smith for "throwing an elbow and striking the chin" of Terry.
Smith said on Friday he was trying to draw a foul on Terry on the play, which occurred with seven minutes to play in the game and the Knicks ahead by 19.
"That was a bad basketball play on my behalf, just because I got kicked out of the game and my team needed me," said Smith, who won the NBA's Sixth Man Award earlier this week.
Terry declined comment on the play before Boston's off-day film session on Saturday.
Before the NBA announced its decision, Knicks coach Mike Woodson and center Tyson Chandler both said they did not think Smith intended to harm Terry.
"It looked bad. I think it looked kind of worse than maybe it actually was. I don't think it was intentional," Chandler said.
Woodson said he spoke with Smith and reminded him to "keep his cool" in light of the incident. Woodson on Sunday said Smith was "a little down" but the coach declined to comment on the suspension.
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