NBA suspends Bulls' Richard Hamilton for flagrant elbow to Raptors' DeMar DeRozan
The NBA announced Saturday that Bulls guard Richard Hamilton has been suspended for one game without pay for flagrantly elbowing Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan in the head during Toronto's 97-88 home win on Friday night.
With 5:33 remaining in the third quarter and the Raptors leading 61-52, Hamilton was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and immediately ejected after striking DeRozan in the face with a swinging right elbow and forearm as the two jockeyed for position off the ball on the right wing during a Bulls possession. There wasn't much question about this one: Hamilton's elbow was a clear flagrant 2 because it was both "unnecessary" and "excessive" and the fact that it was a blow to the head certainly warranted the additional punishment.
Hamilton will serve his suspension on Sunday when the Bulls visit Miami to face the Heat. The 14-year veteran is on the books for $5 million this season and a one-game suspension without pay will cost him roughly $45,000.
Chicago, the Eastern Conference's No. 6 seed, holds a record of 43-36 and is a half-game behind the Hawks for the No. 5 seed.
Hamilton, 35, is averaging 10.1 points, 2.4 assists and 1.7 assists in 48 games for the Bulls this season.
