Anthony will not appeal suspension
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Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Denver Nuggets star forward Carmelo Anthony
will not appeal the 15-game suspension he received for his role in Saturday's
ugly brawl with the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Anthony's agent told USA Today that his client does not want to cause a distraction to the team. Anthony's teammate J.R. Smith, however, has formally appealed his 10 game suspension. The situation was ignited by Mardy Collins' hard foul on Smith with 1:15 left in the fourth quarter. Smith immediately protested the hard contact and jawed at the Knicks rookie. New York's Nate Robinson then barreled in and yelled at Smith, tackling him into the stands. Anthony then pushed New York's Jared Jeffries and extended his right hand to punch at Collins, and the action moved to near center court when Jeffries tried to get at the Nuggets star player, but he was pulled down by another player before order was restored. Robinson was also handed a 10-game suspension, while Collins received a six games suspension and Jeffries was handed a four-game penalty. New York's Jerome James and Denver's Nene were each suspended one game for leaving the bench during the altercation. Anthony, Smith, Eduardo Najera, Marcus Camby and Andre Miller were thrown out of the game for Denver, while Collins, Jeffries, Robinson, Channing Frye and David Lee were all ejected for the Knicks. DEN |