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Milwaukee Bucks ahead Thanasis Antetokounmpo has been suspended one recreation for headbutting Boston Celtics ahead Blake Griffin, the league introduced on Saturday. Antetokounmpo will serve his suspension on Sunday when the Bucks host the Philadelphia 76ers.
The incident occurred with 1:25 remaining within the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ dominant 41-point win over the Bucks on Thursday night time. Antetokounmpo drove to the basket and was on the receiving finish of a tough foul from Griffin, who grabbed his shoulder and prevented him from getting off the bottom. As the 2 squared off within the aftermath of the whistle, Antetokounmpo delivered a headbutt to Griffin’s face.
After a short overview of the play, Griffin was given a Flagrant 1 for his involvement, whereas Antetokounmpo was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the sport.
In the ultimate seconds of the sport, Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown gave Griffin the protecting masks he wears on his face following a facial fracture earlier within the season. “I believed he wanted some safety on the market,” Brown joked after the sport. “Guys headbutting guys, perhaps the entire group wants masks.”
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla took a comedic take a look at the incident as effectively when chatting with reporters.
“I believed Blake dealt with it effectively,” Mazulla mentioned. “That’s not one thing we went over in coaching camp. I believed Blake dealt with it very well, simply kinda laughing it off, separating himself from it and simply kinda being the larger individual.”
Antetokounmpo has solely appeared in 33 video games for the Bucks this season, and simply one in every of them was determined by fewer than 9 factors. During these outings, he is scored 25 factors and has extra turnovers (11) than made area objectives (10). In different phrases, his suspension is not going to impression the Bucks on the court docket.
