New York: Brazilian Nene was among four Washington Wizards players suspended for one game by the NBA on Wednesday for leaving the bench during an altercation in a pre-season game.
The league banned reserves DeJuan Blair, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas as well as starting centre Nene for the first game of the upcoming season in which each man is eligible and physically able to play, likely the Wizards’ October 29 opener against the Miami Heat.
The four players left the bench during an incident between Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah and Wizards forward Paul Pierce in Monday’s 85-81 Washington victory at Chicago.
Noah was fined $15,000 (Dh55,095) for initiating the altercation with Pierce by pushing him in the chest, while the Wizards player was fined the same amount for hitting Noah in the forehead with his left index finger.
Washington eliminated Chicago four games to one in the opening round of last season’s NBA play-offs.
