National Basketball Association

Lakers' Barnes suspended one game

Published Apr. 1, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes was suspended one game without pay Friday after getting into a fight with Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks.

The altercation occurred during the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 110-82 win over Dallas on Thursday night, when Terry delivered a two-handed shove to the back of Lakers guard Steve Blake on a drive to the basket. The two were exchanging words when Barnes got involved.

Barnes shoved Terry and was restrained by Mavericks assistant Terry Stotts, then shook away from him, sending the coach flying into courtside spectators.

Barnes will serve his suspension Friday night when the Lakers visit Utah.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before the game he wasn't surprised that Barnes was suspended.

''He's definitely got to check that stuff at the door in the playoffs,'' Jackson said. ''You can't play shorthanded in the playoffs.''

Asked if he was proud to see Barnes stand up for a teammate, Jackson said, ''The valor about standing up for a teammate that's been fouled in a way that's not part of our game, we admire that. But it's got to be checked off when it comes to playoff time.''

Can a guy like Barnes, who plays with an edge, do that? Jackson wasn't sure, but said, ''We're going to ask him to.''

Jackson also wasn't surprised Terry received no further punishment from the league.

''His foul was not part of basketball, but it also was not enough to get ejected (or suspended),'' Jackson said.

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