Four Draw Fines, Suspensions for Roles in NBA Playoff Violence

Miami teammates Keith Askins and Grant Long, Atlanta’s Douglas Edwards and San Antonio’s Dennis Rodman were suspended and fined by the NBA on Monday after fights and rough play in games during the weekend.

Askins was suspended for three games and fined $15,000 for coming off the bench in a third-quarter fight between Atlanta and the Heat during Saturday’s 104-86 Hawk victory that tied the best-of-five playoff series, 1-1. Edwards was suspended two games for punching Askins and Long one game for initiating the incident by striking Atlanta’s Duane Ferrell in the neck.

Askins, Edwards and Long were fined $10,000 each.

Atlanta’s Danny Manning, Adam Keefe, Stacey Augmon, Andrew Lang, Paul Graham and Ennis Whatley and Miami’s Willie Burton, Matt Geiger, Alec Kessler, Harold Miner, John Salley and Brian Shaw were fined $2,500 for leaving the bench.

Rodman was suspended one game and fined $10,000 for undercutting Utah’s Tom Chambers in the second quarter and kneeing John Stockton in the fourth during the Spurs’ 96-84 loss to the Jazz on Saturday, which tied that best-of-five series, 1-1.

All suspensions take place immediately. Both playoff series resume tonight at Salt Lake City and Miami.