O’Neal Suspended One Game for Hitting Celtics’ Montross
The Orlando Magic, upset about a one-game suspension imposed on Shaquille O’Neal by the NBA on Saturday, said it wasn’t all their man’s fault.
O’Neal was suspended by the NBA for an altercation with Boston Celtic rookie Eric Montross while the Magic was winning, 129-103, Friday.
He charged Montross after the two became tangled while positioning for a rebound only five minutes into the game, lunging and hitting the Celtic center in the throat area.
“We felt it was a shove and some people feel it was a punch,” said John Gabriel, Magic vice president of operations. “Rod Thorn (NBA vice president of operations) told me it was somewhere in between, but clearly it was a blow and that’s why they suspended Shaquille.
“The physical play is something Shaquille has been dealing with every night this season, and if the referees don’t clean it up, he loses his temper. I think that’s what happened in this case.”
O’Neal’s suspension will cost him about $58,500 in pay, plus $6,000 in league fines for a $64,500 total.
He will sit out today’s nationally televised game against the Chicago Bulls.
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