Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn has been suspended two video games with out pay for initiating an altercation and throwing a punch in a struggle with Houston Rockets ahead Jabari Smith Jr., the league introduced Sunday.
Smith has been suspended one recreation for the struggle.
Dunn’s suspension will start on Monday because the Jazz tackle the Dallas Mavericks and he’ll miss the next recreation in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs. Smith will miss the Rockets’ matchup with the Portland Path Blazers.
The scuffle occurred early within the second quarter after the 2 received bodily on the prime of the important thing because the Rockets introduced the ball up the court docket. Dunn threw the primary punch aimed toward Smith and Smith returned with one in every of his personal, although neither of their punches landed. After teammates and officers broke up the struggle, each gamers have been ejected.
“For me, I take duty for my actions and regardless of the league decides for me, I’ve to respect that,” Dunn mentioned, per ESPN.
Smith, a second-year participant out of Auburn, is averaging 13.3 factors and eight.5 rebounds per recreation. The Rockets sit in eleventh place within the Western Convention at 35-35 and are preventing for a spot within the play-in event. Having a key starter out will make that quest harder throughout a time when each recreation counts.
Dunn is placing up 5.3 factors and three.9 assists per recreation off the bench for Utah and has been a invaluable defender, notching a steal per recreation. The Jazz sit behind the Rockets in twelfth place within the West.
Dunn’s first recreation again from suspension will probably be in opposition to the Smith and the Rockets in a matchup that each groups hope will probably be a little bit friendlier this time round.