NEW YORK — The Lakers won’t have Derek Fisher for Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series, but Kobe Bryant will be in the lineup because the elbow he threw at Ron Artest landed just low enough.
Fisher and Orlando’s Rafer Alston were suspended one game by the NBA on Thursday for separate incidents in playoff games the previous night. The league also assessed Bryant a flagrant foul one penalty for elbowing Artest during the second half of the Lakers’ victory.
However, Bryant was not suspended because the league ruled he elbowed Artest in the chest area. Had it been above the shoulders — and Artest said it was his neck — the Lakers all-star likely would have been banned from the arena tonight.
“It’s clear in our rules that we treat elbow contact above the shoulder area differently than we do other parts of the body,” NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said.
In the Magic’s 112-94 loss, Boston’s Eddie House was celebrating after making a shot when Alston reached out and slapped him in the back of the head. Each received a technical foul after standing face-to-face for a few seconds before referees intervened. The suspension leaves the Magic in the hands of 34-year-old Anthony Johnson and seldom-used Tyronn Lue for tonight’s Game 3.
Fisher was called for a flagrant foul when struck the Rockets’ Luis Scola, who was setting a pick, with his shoulder and head as the Rockets brought the ball up the court. Fisher was ejected.
Hawks Horford, Williams sit out
CLEVELAND — Starting center Al Horford (sprained ankle) and forward Marvin Williams (sprained wrist) missed Atlanta’s game against the Cavaliers because of injuries.
The Associated Press
