Suns’ Gilliam Suspended--Out for Final 2 Games

Armon Gilliam of the Phoenix Suns was suspended for two games and fined $7,500 by the NBA today as the result of his fight with Dwayne (Pearl) Washington of Miami that spilled over from the floor to the locker room.

Washington was fined $2,000 for his part in the incident that took place Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound Gilliam and the 6-2, 200-pound Washington got into an altercation during the third quarter of Phoenix’s 117-91 win. Both were ejected.

While the game continued, Gilliam went to the Miami locker room and confronted Washington, who came away with a cut lip that required three stitches.

The suspension means that Gilliam, Phoenix’s fourth leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, will miss the final two games of the regular season, at home tonight against Houston and at San Antonio Saturday.

The Suns entered tonight’s game just one game behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the battle for the Pacific Division title and top seeding in the Western Conference.