Report: Jason Smith suspended 2 games for Blake Griffin hit

[womenwrestlerfan]

Report: Jason Smith suspended 2 games for Blake Griffin hit
By Ben Golliver | NBA Blogger
March 23, 2012



New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith trucked Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin, and now he's paying for it.

ESPN.com reported on Friday that Smith has been suspended for two games for the flagrant foul 2 he leveled against Griffin.

The Hornets host the San Antonio Spurs in New Orleans on Saturday and travel to face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday. Smith will be eligible to return to action for a Wednesday night game at the Golden State Warriors in Oakland.

The hit occurred during the fourth quarter of a Thursday night game as Griffin attacked the basket in transition. Smith raced back to play defense and, unable to get between Griffin and the hoop, opted to bodycheck him to the ground. Griffin rolled around on the court in pain and Smith was eventually ejected. New Orleans went on to upset Los Angeles 97-90.

Hornets.com reported that Smith apologized to Griffin following the game.

"I didn't want to give him an easy layup (but) there are a ton better ways to go about it," Smith said.

During the 2010-2011 season, then Portland Trail Blazers guard Andre Miller was suspended one game for bodyslamming Griffin in a similar manner.

credit: cbssports.com

[ThomC]

That was the play of the year. Can't stand Blake Griffin. It was flagrant, but it could have been much much worse. Had Blake jumped then the guy clobbered him he would have been hurt.