NBA suspends Grizzlies' Zach Randolph for Game 7 after Game 6 punch
Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph sits on the bench in the second half of Game 6 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, May 1, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. Oklahoma City won 104-84 to even the series 3-3. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies leading scorer, was suspended one game by the NBA on Friday and will thus miss Game 7 of the first-round playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The suspension, without pay, comes for punching Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams in the jaw Thursday with 6:42 remaining in Game 6, which OKC won, 104-84, to avoid elimination and force Saturdays knockout game.
WATCH VIDEO from nba.com of the play that resulted in Zach Randolph's suspension
The Grizzlies were already preparing to deal with the possible absence of the teams second-leading scorer, point guard Mike Conley, who aggravated a strained right hamstring on Thursday and did not practice on Friday. Conley is undergoing treatment to the leg and hopes to play but that will likely be a gametime decision.
The NBA release included a link to a video in which Randolph and Adams appear momentarily tangled but then Randolph gathers himself, clenches his right fist and delivers a right hook that lands solidly on Adams jaw.
Adams, a 7-foot rookie from New Zealand selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, had by far his best game of the series in Game 6, with five blocks, three rebounds and four fouls battling Memphis big men down low.
His play Thursday was the subject of much praise after the game.
Though Randolphs 18.2 points per game in the series is higher than his regular-season average of 17.4 points, he has struggled to finish and is connecting on only 40.3 percent of his shots from the field. He has missed 16 of the 41 free-throws.
In November 2012, the NBA fined Randolph $25,000 for his role in a confrontation with Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins, but he was not suspended. The Grizzlies have since adopted a phrase Randolph used after that incident I dont bluff as one of the teams slogans, even putting We Dont Bluff on growl towels.
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NBA suspends Grizzlies' Zach Randolph for Game 7 after Game 6 punch