BOSTON // Kevin Garnett, the Boston Celtics forward, has been suspended for tonight's NBA play-off game against the Miami Heat for his role in a heated confrontation during Game 1 of the series. Garnett elbowed Quentin Richardson, the Heat forward, in the face during a sideline skirmish late in the fourth quarter of Boston's win. Richardson had approached Boston's Paul Pierce, who was down injured on the court. "I tried to give [Pierce] some room and I just saw [Richardson] standing over him talking nonsense," Garnett said.
"I asked [Richardson] to give him some room and, before you knew it, mayhem started. I know these two have competed against each other in the past and have history from bumping heads a little bit." Garnett hit Richardson, as he was walking toward Pierce, who had gone down near Miami's bench. Garnett initially brushed Richardson with his left arm but TV replays showed him landing an elbow as players from both teams began pushing and shoving.
Garnett was ejected, and the NBA announced the suspension on Sunday. Joakim Noah, the Chicago Bulls centre who has faced Garnett several times this year, said Garnett deserved whatever punishment he received and labelled him "a dirty player". "He's always swinging elbows," Noah said. * AP & Reuters