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Official Marc Davis ejects Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics - Source: Getty Images -
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Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended one game for bumping into an official during his team's playoff-opening loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the National Basketball Association said today.
Rondo, who will serve his ban tomorrow when the Eastern
Conference quarter-final resumes, was given a foul for arguing a
call during the final minute of Sunday's 83-74 road loss and was
ejected seconds later after chest-bumping the referee.
"As I was walking (toward him) I thought he stopped and my momentum
carried me into him," said the three-time All-Star, who had 20
points and 11 assists in Game One of the best-of-seven series. "I
didn't intentionally chest bump him but that's what it appears to
be."
Meanwhile the Los Angeles Clippers' stunning come-from-behind victory over Memphis in the first round of the NBA playoffs has come at a high price with forward Caron Butler suffering a broken left hand and doubtful for 4-6 weeks.
The 32-year-old got his hand caught in the jersey of Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay during the third quarter and eventually left the game.
"I was able to keep playing, but once I got subbed out, I felt the throbbing," Butler told reporters after the Clippers fought back from a 27-point deficit. "I went and got an X-ray and noticed that I had a fracture."
Butler finished with 12 points, but his absence will leave a young Clippers team without one of their few proven playoff performers. Ironically, he was also a member of the Dallas Mavericks roster last season, but missed their NBA championship run with a knee injury.