WALTHAM, Mass. — Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended by the NBA for two games on Thursday for starting a scuffle with Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries.
Rondo will miss tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers and Sunday’s against the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Celtics center Kevin Garnett was fined $25,000 for his role in the scuffle, and Nets forward Gerald Wallace was fined $35,000.
Rondo was thrown out of Wednesday night’s 95-83 loss to the Nets in the second quarter when he shoved Humphries into the courtside seats after the Brooklyn forward knocked Garnett to the floor with a hard foul.
What Rondo called a “pushing war” ensued, and Humphries and Wallace were also ejected.
Heat 105, Spurs 100
MIAMI — Ray Allen’s 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left gave the Miami Heat the lead, and they held on to beat the short-handed San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night to remain perfect at home this season.
The Spurs played without Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green, all sent home to rest in a move that raised the ire of NBA Commissioner David Stern, who said San Antonio would be sanctioned for that decision.
Still, the Heat needed to rally late. Down by one, LeBron James nearly lost the ball in the lane, then recovered and found Allen — who has already hit three late-game 3s to help Miami win at home this season, all set up by the reigning MVP.
Warriors 106,
Nuggets 105
OAKLAND, Calif. — Andre Iguodala’s 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded was waved off, and the Golden State Warriors held on for a wild win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night after four replay reviews over the final 3.4 seconds.
Iguodala received a cross-court inbounds pass and connected from the left wing with a hand in his face, and Denver players celebrated by running off the court toward their locker room. But the Warriors stayed put and waited on yet another review by officials at the scorer’s table — then began their own cheers at raucous Oracle Arena when officials ruled the shot came just an instant after time expired.
Iguodala missed the last of three free throws that would have tied the game with 3.4 seconds to go, but Denver still had two more chances to win.
Veteran PA announcer
David Courtney dies
LOS ANGELES — David Courtney, the veteran public address announcer for the Los Angeles Clippers, Kings and Angels, died Thursday. He was 56.
The Clippers said he died in Los Angeles, but gave no other details. Courtney missed Wednesday night’s game against Minnesota because he was in the hospital awaiting an angiogram, according to his Twitter feed.
Courtney announced Los Angeles Kings game for 24 years, including their run to the Stanley Cup championship last season, but was idled this season by the NHL lockout. He had spent the last 19 summers announcing Los Angeles Angels games.
He was the voice of All-Star games in three pro leagues, working the 2002 NHL event, baseball’s 2010 event and last year’s NBA All-Star game. He also worked the 1981 NBA Finals, the 1993 and 2012 Stanley Cup finals and the 2002 World Series, won by the Angels. He filled in announcing several Los Angeles Dodgers games during the season.
Cavaliers sign Jones,
waive Harangody
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers have waived forward Luke Harangody and signed rookie forward Kevin Jones.
Harangody recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined for another month. The former Notre Dame star appeared in 42 games over the past two seasons for Cleveland, averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He did not play in a game this season.
Jones was signed by Cleveland as an undrafted free agent this summer and was one of the last players cut at the end of training camp. He was assigned to the Cavs’ NBA Development team in Canton.
