NBA suspends Walker for grabbing referee

Updated: 2005-04-30 09:47

Boston forward Antoine Walker was suspended for one game by the NBA on Friday for grabbing a referee during an angry confrontation with Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal.

Antoine Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics is ejected from the game after he received his second technical foul in Game three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2005 at Conseco Field House in Indianapolis,Indiana. Walker will miss game four of the Celtics' first-round National Basketball Association playoff. [AFP]

O'Neal was fined $10,000 for his role in the altercation.

Walker, who had 14 points and nine rebounds, was ejected following his second technical Thursday night after a hard foul on O'Neal with just over four minutes to go. During the confrontation, Walker grabbed referee Tom Washington by the arm in an attempt to move him out of the way. O'Neal shoved Walker in the chest and grabbed his jersey, but no punches were thrown.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he never expected Walker would be suspended.

"I'm surprised and disappointed in the league's decision," Rivers said late Friday. "But we are a strong and resilient team. I wish the decision had been made sooner so we could have more time to prepare for Indiana on Saturday."

Walker was not available for comment following the league's announcement, team spokesman Brian Gleason said.

Earlier, before practice, Walker talked to NBA vice president Stu Jackson but would not discuss what was said during the telephone conversation.

"Next question. ... Next question," Walker kept repeating. "It's none of your business."

O'Neal, still bothered by a sprained right shoulder he injured late in the regular season, also received a technical but remained in the game and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Pacers won 99-76 to go up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Saturday night.

Walker will be reinstated for Game 5 in Boston on Tuesday.

Rivers said before the penalties were announced that he didn't think the NBA would suspend his star forward because the contact with Washington wasn't intentional.

"If you're arguing with the ref and you go and bump a ref, that's one thing," Rivers said. "But in a scramble, or whatever that was, when guys are running around, refs are told to go in and engage, and players, you don't know who ... you're pushing around or grabbing, so that's a big difference."

The Pacers, meanwhile, also practiced under the assumption Walker would be in the lineup.

"We had a lot of other things we needed to clean up today and some adjustments we needed to make, and if something happens there, we'll have a plan ready," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said.

Walker's first technical on Thursday came in the third quarter after he squared off against Stephen Jackson following another hard foul on O'Neal. He also refused to talk about that confrontation or even the physical nature of the game in general.

"There's nothing wrong with the game plan. There's nothing wrong with us. We've just got to pick up the intensity and want it a little more," Walker said. "We could make a lot of excuses. ... The bottom line is to try to win the game."

Paul Pierce led Boston with 19 points but played only 5 minutes and did not score in the fourth quarter. He said the rough play was just part of the game, especially in the playoffs.

"Guys are fighting for the same goal, and it's going to be a little more heated than a regular-season game. There's going to be a lot of emotions going on, so there's going to be hard fouls, there's going to be skirmishes, and that's expected," Pierce said.

O'Neal said he watched a tape of the game when he got home Thursday night.

"Some of the fouls did come after the whistle," he said. "Some of the fouls, I thought, were excessive, but I'm not going to take it personal. I don't think anybody out there is really trying to kill anybody. They're trying to do things that players do in the playoffs.

"I can't fault any of those guys, the guys taking shots at me. Who knows? I probably would do it too if one of their main guys was hurt. It's just the nature of the game."

Jackson, who injured his left knee in Monday's game at Boston, said it was still sore but no worse than before.

"I feel if I stay on it and continue to work on it, it'll continue to get stronger," he said. "I'm not complaining. I was able to do some good things last night. I didn't score as much, but we won."

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