Carmelo Anthony has been suspended for one game without pay by the NBA for confronting Boston’s Kevin Garnett several times after the Knicks-Celtics game on Monday night at the Garden.
Anthony’s blow-up will force him to miss the Knicks-Pacers game Thursday night at Indianapolis. He will be eligible to return to action Friday when the Knicks host the Chicago Bulls at the Garden.
Garnett, one of the NBA’s premier trash talkers who reportedly angered Anthony with some vulgar comments about the Knicks star’s estranged wife, was not penalized.
In announcing the penalty, the league cited the fact that Anthony confronted Garnett in the arena tunnel as the teams left the court, near the Celtics’ locker room and later in the ramp area where the Celtics team bus was parked.
“There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game,” NBA Executive VP of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said. “Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted.”
Anthony was probably shocked by the decision. He maintained over the last two days that he did nothing to warrant a suspension.
