Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dahntay Jones was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Sunday for striking Toronto Raptors centre Bismack Biyombo in the groin.
The incident happened with 17.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 99-84 Toronto home victory over the Cavaliers, which snapped Cleveland’s 10-game win streak to open the playoffs.
The Cavaliers still have a 2-1 lead over the Raptors in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals with game four – the contest Jones will miss – on Monday at Toronto.
Democratic Republic of Congo centre Biyombo pulled down 26 rebounds in a dominating performance Saturday, matching the most by any player in an NBA playoff game since 1984.
The league also fined Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey $25 000 for public criticism of officiating in his post-game news conference.
Either the Cavaliers or Raptors will face the Western Conference winner, Oklahoma City or defending NBA champion Golden State, in next month’s NBA Finals.
© Reuters
