Original Post (3:30 PM):
The NBA has announced that Portland Trail Blazers point guard Andre Miller has been suspended without pay for one game by the league for "unnecessary contact with Blake Griffin of the Clippers" during the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game between Portland and Los Angeles.
Brian Cook, who levelled Joel Przybilla (video here), was also suspended for two games.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS' BRIAN COOK AND PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS' ANDRE MILLER SUSPENDED
NEW YORK, December 6, 2010 - Brian Cook of the Los Angeles Clippers has been suspended two games without pay for his Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two against Joel Przybilla of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Andre Miller of the Trail Blazers has been suspended one game without pay for making excessive and unnecessary contact with Blake Griffin of the Clippers, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations. Upon postgame video review by the league office, Miller was assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two for his actions.
The incident involving Cook occurred with 4.5 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Portland's 100-91 win over the Clippers on Sunday, December 5 at Rose Garden. The incident involving Miller occurred with 7:06
remaining in the fourth quarter of the same game.
Cook will begin serving his suspension tonight when the Clippers host the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. Miller will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Trail Blazers host the Phoenix Suns at Rose Garden.
John Hollinger of ESPN.com described Miller's contact with Griffin like this...
Portland's Andre Miller, however, is unlikely to be as fortunate. Midway through the fourth quarter, he turned himself into a human battering ram and torpedoed a blindsided Blake Griffin into the stanchion under the Clippers' basket; unlike Matthews' transgression, this one has abundant corroborating video. At the very least, Miller will likely have a flagrant foul 1 added to his file. The normally calm Griffin was upset enough to have a heated conversation with ref Pat Fraher over the unbelievable fact that none of the three refs saw it.
"There wasn't [a] foul called," said Miller. "I got my opportunity to get a lick in."
Update (3:45 PM):
It looks like the suspension will end Andre Miller's ironman consecutive games played streak. In 2008, a one-game suspension ended Bruce Bowen's 500 game streak.
Miller's streak stood at 632 consecutive games played, dating back to the 2002-03 season. The last game he missed was on January 24, 2003, when his Clippers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tuesday night will mark just the fourth game Miller has missed in an NBA career that dates back to 1999-2000. All figures courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
If I had to guess, I would expect Patty Mills to get the start at point guard tomorrow night in Miller's place, although starting Nicolas Batum in a three-guard lineup is also an option that's on the table.
I asked Griffin for his reaction to the rough stuff last night. You can read it in full here.
"I thought we handled it well. We had guys stick up for our teammates. That's what you like to see. I just think you've got to keep that attitude, you can't let people punk us. I'm not saying that's what Portland was trying to do, but we can't back down from anybody."
UPDATE (4:37 PM):
Here's video of Miller flattening Griffin after getting into it on the boards on two previous possessions. Thanks to Brandon Mitchell.
Update (4:48 PM): The Blazers have tweeted confirmation that "Andre Miller's suspension will officially end his consecutive games played streak at 632, which was the longest active streak in the NBA."
Update (5:14 PM): Jason Quick writes, "McMillan said he will likely start Mills, who was promoted to backup point guard two games ago ahead of rookie Armon Johnson."
Update (6:14 PM): Here's the reverse angle of Miller's hit on Griffin, courtesy of Blazers Courtside with Mike Barrett, Mike Rice and Brian Wheeler.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter