Sucker Punch Costs Oak 3 Games
Toronto Raptors forward Charles Oakley was suspended for three games without pay and fined $15,000 by the NBA on Friday for punching Los Angeles Clippers guard Jeff McInnis during the morning shootaround.
"I saw Oakley coming out of the tunnel. He passed by Jeff McInnis, who was sitting on the bench, and socked him," Orange County Register reporter Art Thompson said. "Jeff tried two or three times to get back at him, but players and coaches held him back."
McInnis, who was waving a cup holder as he was being held back, was not fined or suspended.
Oakley sat out Friday night's game against the Clippers, and also will miss games in Utah on Tuesday and Portland on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Alvin Gentry was satisfied with the suspension.
"It was a single hit," Gentry said. "I just saw the aftermath of it, so who knows. We're not talking about the most mature group of people in the world when you talk about pro athletes, so it could have been over anything.
"We talked to the guys and said we don't want ever to retaliate, which is tough to do in certain situations."
Oakley is averaging 7.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. The Raptors are already without star Vince Carter, who remains day-to-day with an injured tendon in his left knee.
Oakley wasn't allowed to attend Friday's game.
©2000 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed