Official suspended for gesture

Official Rodney Mott was suspended three games without pay Friday for making an obscene gesture toward a fan and also using inappropriate language.

Mott made the gesture and remarks after the Portland Trail Blazers’ 93-90 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday night in Portland.

Mott, 49, is in his ninth season as an NBA official.

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Pat Riley is recovering from surgery to replace his left hip, and there’s no timetable for him to return as coach of the Heat.

The 60-minute procedure was Thursday in Miami, the team said. Riley, 61, also had surgery on his right knee last week to remove cartilage.

Ron Rothstein, Miami’s coach in its first three seasons, took over as interim coach after Riley announced an indefinite leave of absence Jan. 3.

“I just wish him well,” said Rothstein, who spoke to Riley after the surgery. “I hope he gets healthy, [that] he doesn’t need to be taking all that medicine. I hope he gets back soon.”

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Forward Eddie Griffin of the Minnesota Timberwolves was suspended for five games by the NBA without pay for violating terms of the anti-drug program.

The NBA’s policy is not to release details on such violations. The suspension was to begin with the Timberwolves’ game Friday night at Memphis.

“We are extremely disappointed in Eddie’s violation of the NBA/NBAPA Anti-Drug Program,” General Manager Jim Stack said in a statement.

“As an organization and a league, we do not condone or excuse this type of behavior. It is each player’s responsibility to adhere to the league policy as agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement.”

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Trail Blazers guard Jarrett Jack suffered a concussion in a car accident and did not play Friday night against the Sacramento Kings.

The team said Jack did not have any other injuries, and released no other details about the morning accident outside Portland’s practice facility.

Jack leads the Trail Blazers with 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals a game.