NBA suspends Orlando's Francis for three games
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-22 10:28

Orlando guard Steve Francis was suspended three games without pay by NBA for kicking a photographer.

Orlando guard Steve Francis, pictured here 18 March 2005, was suspended three games without pay by the National Basketball Association here for kicking a photographer.[AFP]

The ban came two days after the league suspended him indefinitely over the weekend while investigating the incident, which took place with 8mins 57secs remaining in Friday's 99-90 loss at Seattle.

Francis served the first game of his suspension Saturday, when the Magic ended a seven-game losing streak with a 97-92 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Francis, who leads the Magic with 21.4 points and 6.9 assists a game, will miss two games against first-year expansion club Charlotte, on the road Monday and at home Thursday.

Former NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman was suspended 11 games for kicking a cameraman in 1997, but Francis - among the NBA technical fouls leaders - does not have the poor behaviour history Rodman did.

Francis, in his sixth season and first with Orlando, has been replaced in the starting line-up by rookie Jameer Nelson.

The suspension continues a tumultuous week for the Magic, fighting Philadelphia for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Forward Stacey Augmon was suspended one game by the NBA for squirting lotion on reporters after a loss on March 13 and guard DeShawn Stevenson was fined 7,500 dollars for kicking the ball into the stands after the same game.

The Magic dropped the first three games of a five-game road trip, leading to the firing of coach Johnny Davis on Thursday. He was replaced by assistant Chris Jent.

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