National Basketball Association

Hornets' Jason Smith suspended 2 games

Published Mar. 23, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Hornets forward Jason Smith has been suspended two games without pay for his hard foul that sent Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin crashing to the court during a fast break.

In announcing the suspension Friday, NBA executive Stu Jackson said Smith's foul during the late stages of the Hornets' victory on Thursday night involved ''excessive contact with the upper body.''

Griffin did not leave the game but lay on the court in pain for about a minute after the collision while other players gathered in a tense moment behind the basket. Smith was called for a flagrant 2 foul and ejected.

Smith will now miss the Hornets' home game against San Antonio on Saturday night and Monday night's rematch with the Clippers in Los Angeles.