NBA Suspends Andrew Bogut For 1 Game After Altercation
By Phil Watson
November 23, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12, third from left) fights with Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Trail Blazers defeated the Warriors 113-101. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut has been suspended for one game by the NBA for his role in an altercation in Saturday night’s game between the Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena.
According to USA Today, Portland’s Mo Williams was also hit with a one-game suspension. Draymond Green of Golden State and Wesley Matthews and LaMarcus Aldridge of the Blazers were each fined $20,000.
The scuffle began when Bogut took exception to being elbowed in the back by Portland’s Joel Freeland while they jostled for a rebound in the third quarter. Bogut threw an elbow that appeared to graze Freeland’s chin. That brought Matthews, Williams and Aldridge into the fray. Williams and Green were ejected. Matthews picked up a technical and was ejected because it was his second of the game. Bogut, Aldridge and Warriors forward David Lee also were slapped with technical fouls.
Bogut will miss Tuesday night’s game at New Orleans. He is averaging 7.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game in 28.2 minutes a night for the Warriors, having appeared in all 14 games to this point.
The Warriors also made a couple of roster moves, recalling center Dewayne Dedmon and guard Nemanja Nedovic from their D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz on Monday, according to the team’s official website.
Dedmon and Nedovic played for the Santa Cruz Warriors in their 117-103 win over the Austin Toros in Santa Cruz, with Nedovic scoring a game-high 31 points and Dedmon notching 23 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
The loss to Portland on Saturday night was a tough one to swallow for the Warriors. The Blazers closed the game on a 23-11 burst, breaking open a game that was tied 90-90 and rolling to the win.
"“It’s probably good right now for us because so many guys are dealing with [injuries],” coach Mark Jackson told CSNBayArea.com. “It’s good as a team to get away sometimes, figure it out and begin to think about what we need to do.”"
The Warriors took Sunday off and were scheduled to practice today before heading to New Orleans for Tuesday night’s game against the Pelicans. Golden State has lost three straight games after an 8-3 start.
Jackson said the turnaround has to begin without the basketball.
"“We have to get back to who we truly are and it starts on the defensive end,” Jackson said. “It starts with executing offensively and it starts with playing with great energy and effort for 48 minutes—and we will do it.”"