Referee Is Suspended for Wrong Call

Referee Michael Henderson was suspended for three games for making an incorrect call during Wednesday night’s game in Denver between the Lakers and Nuggets, the first such penalty in league history.

Henderson was penalized for calling a shot-clock violation against the Nuggets near the end of the game. After talking it over, officials ordered a jump ball that went to the Lakers, who then won the game, 112-111, on a three-point basket by Kareem Rush with 3.2 seconds left.

Henderson, in his third season as an NBA official, is the first referee in league history suspended for making an officiating error during a game, according to Lamell McMorris, a spokesman for the National Basketball Referees Assn.

With Denver leading, 111-109, and the 24-second clock winding down, a shot by the Nuggets’ Andre Miller brushed the rim and was rebounded by teammate Carmelo Anthony. Because the ball touched the rim, the Nuggets should have maintained possession and been given 24 more seconds to shoot.

In protest, all but two NBA referees turned their jerseys inside-out Friday night and wore No. 62 -- the number assigned to Henderson.

“An unprecedented job action was taken against one of their colleagues, so an unprecedented response was necessary,” McMorris said.

The NBA released a statement from deputy commissioner Russ Granik saying any referees taking part in the protest “will be subject to appropriate discipline.”

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San Antonio forward Tim Duncan will sit out at least one game after injuring his left thigh during the Spurs’ 115-91 loss at Dallas on Thursday night.

A medical exam determined that Duncan had an irritation of the area where the thigh bone meets the kneecap, the team said. He will not play tonight against Denver, and his condition will be re-evaluated next week.

“Obviously it’s good news,” Spur spokesman Tom James said. “It’s short-term, rather than long-term.”

The Spurs, meanwhile, released guard Ron Mercer but did not fill his roster spot. Among the players who could come off the injured list is 6-foot-10 forward Sean Marks.

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Houston guard Cuttino Mobley was fined $5,000 for publicly criticizing the referees after San Antonio’s 86-77 victory over the Rockets on Tuesday night. Mobley described the officiating as “retarded” and said the officials were incompetent.... Forward Eddie Griffin was waived by New Jersey. He did not appear in any games after signing with the Nets on Jan. 8.