When the Washington Wizards open their season on Oct. 29 at Miami, they will be shorthanded in the frontcourt.
Four Wizards – including rotation bigs Nene and DeJuan Blair – were suspended one game Wednesday by the NBA for leaving the bench during Monday’s scrum with the Chicago Bulls in an exhibition game.
Also suspended were Xavier Silas and Daniel Orton, although they are long shots to make the team. The Wizards have 13 guaranteed contracts plus Glen Rice Jr., last year’s second-round pick.
The incident occurred just over three minutes into Washington’s 85-81 win at Chicago, the first preseason game for both teams. Bulls center Joakim Noah and Wizards forward Paul Pierce exchanged pleasantries, with Noah shoving Pierce in the chest and Pierce retaliating by poking Noah in the forehead. You can watch it here.
Both Noah and Pierce were fined $15,000. All of the discipline was handed out by NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn.
The teams met in the playoffs last season, with the Wizards surprising the Bulls in five games, winning all three contests in Chicago. Pierce was not on the Wizards last season.