Wells Suspended for Fight, Wallace Is Fined $15,000

Bonzi Wells drew a two-game suspension from the NBA on Saturday for fighting at the end of the Portland-Golden State game Friday at Oakland, and Rasheed Wallace was fined $15,000 for attempting to go into the stands.

Wells’ suspension began with Portland’s home game Saturday night against Seattle. He will sit out the game against Utah on Friday.

“He was disappointed,” said Trail Blazer Coach Maurice Cheeks, who said Wells learned of the suspension about 3 1/2 hours before the game against Seattle. “He was disappointed the situation happened, for himself and the team. For him to be out for two games is hard for him and it’s hard for the team.”

Penalties for the Golden State players who took part in the altercation are expected to be announced today.

Wells was punished for throwing a punch at Chris Mills, who reportedly tried to get into the Trail Blazer locker room but was restrained.

Later, as the Trail Blazer bus tried to leave the arena, Mills parked his car in front of it, got out with several friends and challenged the Trail Blazers, the Oregonian newspaper reported. The bus wasn’t able to leave until Oakland police arrived to provide an escort.

“I’ve never seen a guy do anything like that,” Cheeks said. “That can be kind of scary, because you don’t know what’s going through a guy’s mind.”

The brawl started seconds after Wallace made a buzzer-beating jump shot to give Portland a 113-111 victory.

“I don’t think we dislike each other,” said Antawn Jamison of the Warriors, who was on his way to the locker room and missed the fight. “In a close game like that, there’s a lot of emotion involved, and sometimes guys go over the top.”

Wells and Mills were battling for position and were still tied up after Wallace’s shot went through. As the two exchanged words and pushed each other, the Warriors’ Troy Murphy entered the fray and threw punches.

Portland’s Scottie Pippen said the disturbance never should have escalated that far.

“There was no reason he shouldn’t let Bonzi go,” Pippen said, referring to Mills.

The situation was made worse by fans throwing wads of gum and plastic beer bottles at the Trail Blazers as they headed for the locker room. One man was handcuffed and subdued by security officers. He threw gum at Wallace, sparking another confrontation with several Trail Blazers.

In November, Wells was suspended for one game by the NBA for spitting on San Antonio’s Danny Ferry during a game.