Kemp Suspended Again for Violating Anti-Drug Policy

Orlando Magic center Shawn Kemp was suspended without pay by the NBA on Tuesday, the third time he has violated the terms of the league’s anti-drug policy.

Kemp’s suspension began with Tuesday night’s game between the Magic and the New Jersey Nets, and will continue until he has resumed full compliance with his treatment program.

A year ago, when he was with the Portland Trail Blazers, Kemp was suspended for five games for violating the policy. He sat out from Feb. 22 through March 4 and lost $141,889 of his $12.77-million salary for each game he missed.

The 33-year-old Kemp, a six-time All-Star, also missed the final eight games of the 2000-2001 season, taking a leave of absence from Portland and entering a substance abuse program. Because he volunteered to enter a program, he was not suspended by the league at that time.

Certain substances, such as cocaine and LSD, call for dismissal from the league, although players may apply for reinstatement after two years.

The league, its teams and the players’ association are prohibited from publicly disclosing information regarding the testing or treatment of any player in the program, other than to announce a player’s suspension or dismissal from the league.

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Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley was fined $20,000 by the NBA for criticizing officials after a loss to Portland last week.

It was the second fine this season for Riley, who was hit with a $50,000 fine for speaking out against officials earlier.

“It was an absolute officiating tragedy,” Riley said after the Heat lost, 101-87, to the Trail Blazers on Feb. 5. “I thought I was at the comedy store watching some kind of comedian out there laughing with the Blazers, and talking to them, and smiling with them. It was so unprofessional.”

Riley was angered because the Heat took seven free throws compared to the Trail Blazers’ 32. “You cannot overcome 32-7,” Riley said.

Riley was fined $50,000 in December for saying officials treat his team unfairly because they dislike him.

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Forward Eduardo Najera and center Evan Eschmeyer were activated from the injured list by the Dallas Mavericks. To make room, Dallas put forward Popeye Jones (right ankle sprain) and Avery Johnson (right calf strain) on the injured list.... The Golden State Warriors settled a legal dispute with their landlord, the Oakland Alameda County Joint Powers Authority, by paying a $22-million arbitration judgment for failing to make payments on premium seating revenue, rent and facility fees during the team’s first two seasons in their refurbished arena.