NBA suspends J.R. Smith two games for hitting Jae Crowder
The NBA has suspended Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith for two games and Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk for one game, the league announced Monday. Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins was also fined $15,000.
In the first quarter of Sunday's Game 4, Olynyk tangled with Cavs forward Kevin Love while battling for a loose ball. Olynyk appeared to tug at Love's arm, which Love called "bush-league." Love suffered a dislocated shoulder and will miss Cleveland's next playoff series, the team announced Monday.
In the second quarter of the game, Perkins shoved Boston's Jae Crowder while setting a screen, sparking a shoving match between members of both teams. Perkins was assessed a flagrant-1 for the screen, and he and Crowder were assessed technical fouls.
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Early in the third quarter, Smith struck Crowder in the face boxing him out and was assessed a flagrant-2 foul, which carries an automatic ejection. Crowder fell awkwardly and missed the rest of the game with a knee injury. He was diagnosed with an ACL sprain Monday.
Smith responded to the suspension in an Instagram post.
Clippers forward Matt Barnes disagreed with the NBA's decision to suspend Smith.
Cleveland won Sunday's game and swept the series from the Celtics. The Cavaliers will face the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series in the next round.
- Dan Gartland
