Utah’s Malone Suspended for Hit on Laettner

The NBA suspended forward Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz one game and fined him $7,500 for backhanding Christian Laettner of the Dallas Mavericks in the face during Monday night’s game.

The incident occurred in the first quarter of the Mavericks’ 107-98 victory at Utah.

Malone, who is averaging a team-leading 23.8 points and 10.7 rebounds, sat out Wednesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Salt Lake City.

The suspension will cost Malone, a two-time NBA most valuable player, about $156,000 based on his $14-million salary this season.

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Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks, was fined $25,000 by the NBA for verbally abusing and publicly criticizing officials Tuesday night.

It’s the third time in eight days that the Internet billionaire has been fined for the same reason. His previous punishments were for $5,000 and $15,000.

Fearing he was becoming a distraction to the team, Cuban missed two games after his $15,000 fine. He returned Tuesday night and witnessed a 116-110 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics at Dallas.

After sitting calmly through the game--with his mother seated next to him--Cuban then waited outside the officials’ locker room. When they arrived, he said: “Am I mistaken or did No. 30 just hand them the game? Nice game No. 30.”

Gary Benson, the official who wears No. 30, called Dallas’ Shawn Bradley for a foul when he swung his elbows after grabbing a rebound with 42.9 seconds to play and the Mavericks trailing, 112-110.

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A retired high school teacher from Leola, Pa., is being punished with three years of federal probation and a $5,000 fine for sending a threatening e-mail message about Philadelphia 76er star Allen Iverson and his daughter.

U.S. District Judge Franklin S. Van Antwerpen also ordered Jay W. “Bill” Charles, 55, to complete 100 hours of community service by tutoring minority students in mathematics.

Charles apologized at Tuesday’s sentencing at the federal courthouse in Easton.

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Coach Rick Pitino of the Boston Celtics promised to finish the season but said “there won’t be a next year for me” unless the team starts playing better defense.

“I think these players do really care,” Pitino said before Wednesday night’s 96-81 victory over the Houston Rockets at Boston. “Emotion for me is a great vehicle for teaching the game. I’ve got great confidence in these guys that we will turn it around.”

Pitino has said since late last season, his third consecutive losing season, that 2000-01 would be his last season in Boston if he doesn’t see improved results. But after Monday’s 24-point loss to the 76ers dropped the Celtics to 4-6, he turned that into an ultimatum for a team he thinks will play harder to keep him around.