NEW YORK – Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett was suspended for one game on Tuesday for headbutting Houston Rockets centre Dwight Howard in a game yesterday.
The NBA said Howard, who caught Garnett on the neck with what appeared to be an open-handed swing in their first-quarter altercation, was fined $US15,000 ($A16,000).
There were just under eight minutes remaining in the first quarter of the game in Brooklyn when Garnett and Howard tangled under the basket.
They exchanged shoves, and Garnett drilled the ball toward Howard.
The two then stepped towards each other, and Garnett butted his head to Howard’s jaw.
Howard responded with an open-handed swing, which the officials apparently thought was another push, not a punch.
Other players and Nets security stepped in to restrain Garnett, who received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game.
Howard was assessed one technical foul and stayed in the contest, which the Rockets won 113-99.
Garnett will serve his suspension on Wednesday when the Nets host Memphis.
Meanwhile Patty Mills has continued his good form following his return to NBA action, scoring 12 points in San Antonio Spurs’ 101-93 loss to the Washington Wizards.
Mills came off the bench for nearly 25 minutes of court time on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) and scored all of his points from beyond the arc, on four of six three-point shooting.
It’s been a big week for the Australian point guard, who scored a season-high 19 points in the Spurs’ 108-93 win against Minnesota on Saturday and spent Monday visiting US President Barack Obama at the White House with his Spurs teammates.
San Antonio are the defending NBA champions and the visit to the White House is a tradition for major championship winning teams in America.
Mills returned to the Spurs lineup at the end of December following off-season shoulder surgery.
