Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. ó Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been suspended for five games next season for his flagrant foul on Dallas guard J.J. Barea in Los Angelesí final playoff game.
The NBA announced the suspension Tuesday, two days after Bynum was ejected for the foul late in the two-time defending championsí 36-point loss to the Mavericks in Game 4. The league also fined Bynum $25,000 for ripping off his jersey while heading to the locker room, which means the suspension will cost Bynum more than $700,000.
Bynum said his actions ědonít represent me, my upbringing, this franchise or any of the Laker fans out there that want to watch us and want us to succeed,î Bynum said. ěI want to actually apologize to J.J. Barea for doing that. Iím just glad that he wasnít seriously injured in the event. All I can say is, Iíve looked at (a replay), itís terrible, and it definitely wonít be happening again.î
MARATHON GAME
OKLAHOMA CITY ó Scott Brooks knows what he’s up against in trying to keep his young, eager Oklahoma City Thunder team off the basketball court for a whole day.
Even if that day started with the final stretch of a triple-overtime playoff thriller, a round of postgame interviews and a flight that didn’t get back to Oklahoma City until around 3:30 a.m.
Less than 14 hours after their marathon 133-123 victory in Game 4 at Memphis, Serge Ibaka and Nate Robinson were out shooting and Kevin Durant and other teammates were in the building while Brooks met with reporters.
PACERS
NDIANAPOLIS ó Larry Bird will get to see his rebuilding project through, after all.
The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday that they will keep Bird as team president after he met with owner Herb Simon in Los Angeles.
BOBCATS
CHARLOTTE ó Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson was undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, a procedure that’s expected to alleviate chronic knee pain.
Henderson was having the surgery in Vail, Colo., where a specialist discovered the injury while examining his troublesome left knee.