Heat’s Birdman suspended for Game 6 Heat’s Birdman suspended for Game 6 ADVERTISING NEW YORK — Chris Andersen was suspended Friday by the NBA for his altercation with Tyler Hansbrough, leaving the Miami Heat without one of their best big
Heat’s Birdman suspended for Game 6
NEW YORK — Chris Andersen was suspended Friday by the NBA for his altercation with Tyler Hansbrough, leaving the Miami Heat without one of their best big men as they try to finish off the Indiana Pacers in Game 6.
The league also upgraded Andersen’s foul to a Flagrant 2, which would have meant an automatic ejection had it been called at the time.
Andersen knocked Hansbrough to the floor from behind with 9:02 left in the second quarter Thursday, then shoved him backward after Hansbrough got up. Andersen still wouldn’t back away when a referee stepped in, and the league said in a statement that he “resisted efforts to bring the altercation to an end.”
Andersen has made all 15 shots from the field in the series, and the Heat could miss the Birdman’s size today against the bigger Indiana front line.
Though referees reviewed the play and upgraded it from a common foul to a flagrant, they chose not to make it a Flagrant 2 and throw Andersen out of the game.
Ex-NBA guard Blaylock critically injured
JONESBORO, Ga. — Former NBA All-Star guard Daron “Mookie” Blaylock was on life support at a hospital Friday after his SUV crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a van in suburban Atlanta, police said.
Blaylock was driving in Jonesboro Friday when he crashed and was airlifted to the Atlanta Medical Center in critical condition, said Clayton County police spokesman Clarence Cox.
Cox says a man and woman riding in the van were also taken to the medical center. Their names and conditions were not immediately available.
The 46-year-old Blaylock was a first-round draft pick by the New Jersey Nets out of Oklahoma in 1989.
He played for the Atlanta Hawks between 1992 and 1999, appeared in the 1994 NBA All-Star game and had his best season in 1996-97, averaging 17.4 points and 5.9 assists.
AP Source: Ujiri to leave Denver for Toronto
Masai Ujiri is leaving Denver to take over the basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors.
A person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Friday that the NBA’s executive of the year has agreed to a deal with the Raptors. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced.
The 42-year-old Ujiri has been hailed as one of the rising stars among NBA executives thanks to his deft handling of the Carmelo Anthony trade to New York and his ability to assemble a relatively starless roster that still managed to be a formidable contender in the Western Conference.
Ujiri will be returning to Toronto. He was the assistant GM for the Raptors for three seasons before leaving for the Nuggets in 2010.
Mitchell Boggs sent to Triple-A Memphis
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals optioned pitcher Mitchell Boggs to Triple-A Memphis and called up rookie Keith Butler.
Boggs, who served as the setup reliever for closer Jason Motte during the 2012 season, has struggled this season. He assumed the closer spot when Motte was lost for the season with an elbow injury and blew three save opportunities.
His latest came Thursday when he allowed two runs in the ninth without recording an out in a 4-2 loss to Kansas City. Boggs has an 11.05 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. This marks the second time he’s been demoted this season.
Butler made 13 appearances at Double-A Springfield (Mo.), giving up one run in 13 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 21 and walked two, and had a 0.66 ERA.
Jazz forward Williams to undergo surgery
SALT LAKE CITY — Jazz forward Marvin Williams will undergo surgery next week on his right heel and Achilles tendon.
The Jazz said Friday that recovery is expected to take about six months.
Williams, acquired by the Jazz in a trade with the Hawks in exchange for guard Devin Harris last July, averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in his first season in Utah.
Phillies release Durbin, recall Savery
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies released right-handed reliever Chad Durbin and recalled left-hander Joe Savery from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.
Durbin, a member of Philadelphia’s 2008 World Series team, gave up three runs on four hits in one inning in Thursday’s 9-2 loss to Boston. He had surrendered 16 earned runs in 16 innings this season.
Savery pitched one scoreless inning for the Phillies this season and is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA in 24 games for Philadelphia over his career.
From wire sources
