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NBA suspends Ariza for one game
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ESPN.com news services
HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza was suspended for one game by the NBA after he was ejected from a game in Toronto for throwing a forearm at Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan.
The league suspended Ariza on Monday and he'll sit out Tuesday's game against Detroit.
Ariza
The 6-foot-8 Ariza is Houston's second-leading scorer, averaging 17 points. He's started the Rockets' first 23 games and leads the team in minutes (38.7 per game).
The cost of a one-game suspension for Ariza, based on his season's salary of nearly $5.9 million, is $53,218.
He went 0-for-9 from the field and scored only one point before he was ejected in the third quarter of Sunday's game for swinging his arm at DeRozan's head following a steal.
"It was a heat of the moment thing," Ariza said. "I lost my cool for a second. I got my penalty and whatever I have to do, I'm just trying to move past it and move forward. I look forward to watching my team play tomorrow and then playing against Denver [on Wednesday]."
Houston coach Rick Adelman said he hasn't decided who will replace Ariza in the lineup, but he doesn't consider Tracy McGrady an option. McGrady has yet to play this season as he works his way back from offseason microfracture surgery on his left knee.
"That's something I haven't thought about," Adelman said. "Tracy's situation is what it's been."
The Rockets acquired Ariza in the offseason after Ron Artest bolted for the Los Angeles Lakers. His averages in scoring, assists (3.4) and rebounds (5.3) so far this year would all be career highs.
Ariza's absence on Tuesday could mean more minutes for rookies Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor, who've contributed in a reserve role this season.
"We'll just talk about it and see what we're going to do," Adelman said. "Just like having a guy injured for a game, guys have to step up, guys have to be ready to play."
The Rockets were joking about Ariza's ejection on Monday.
"We were calling him Manny Pacquiao and 'Golden Boy' De La Hoya," forward Shane Battier said. "You do something like that, you're open for ridicule by the other guys on your team."
Information from ESPN.com's Marc Stein and The Associated Press was used in this report.
It's actually very surprising. One would assume with the increase in playing time and role that his numbers would improve. I'm not surprised about his shooting or turnovers, that's to be expected (although why he's convinced he should be launching over 6 threes a game is anyone's guess), but his rate of assists, rebounds, steals etc shouldn't have declined.
