by Conrad Brunner
March 9, 2003
NEW YORK March 9, 2003 -- Indiana Pacers’ forward Ron Artest has been suspended for one game without pay after exceeding the maximum allowable five flagrant foul penalty points for the season, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President Basketball Operations.
Artest, who entered last night’s game at Portland with five flagrant foul penalty points (one Flagrant 1 foul; two Flagrant 2 fouls), acquired his sixth flagrant foul penalty point when he was assessed with a Flagrant 1 foul after making unnecessary contact with Portland’s Bonzi Wells with 11:19 to go in the second quarter of last night’s 94-80 Blazers win at the Rose Garden.
Artest will serve his one game suspension tonight when the Pacers play the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena at 9:00 p.m. ET.