WASHINGTON — Wizards rookie John Wall was suspended for tonight’s game against Cleveland because of his part in a scuffle against Miami earlier this week.
Wall was playing tight defense Wednesday night against Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who appeared to elbow Wall in the face at least once while protecting the ball. Wall then swung his right hand at Ilgauskas, earning him a one-game suspension.
Washington coach Flip Saunders said he hoped Wall wouldn’t be suspended and pointed out that Ilgauskas elbowed Wall three times.
“We were hoping that he wouldn’t because of the mitigating circumstances,” Saunders said. “Anytime when you’re playing and a guy gives you three elbows, you’re going to respond.
“The rule is pretty black and white. If you throw a punch, you lose a game.”
Jazz on the brink
SALT LAKE CITY — Reserve Kyrylo Fesenko made only his third career start and first of the season Friday when the Jazz faced the Lakers.
A loss to the Lakers (54-20) would officially eliminate the Jazz (36-39) from the playoffs and would make it the first team in history to start 15-5 and 27-13 and not qualify for postseason play, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Footnotes.
If Carmelo Anthony scores at least 35 points Sunday against the Cavaliers, he will join Bernard King and Dick Barnett as the only Knicks to get 35 or more in four consecutive games. King has the franchise record with five straight from Dec. 21-29, 1984.
• Steve Nash, the Suns’ scoring and assists leader, was a late scratch against the Clippers because of flulike symptoms.
