The Los Angeles Lakers will be without goaltender Patrick Beverley for their next three games. The NBA suspended Beverley on Thursday after shoving Deandre Ayton in the back during a game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
In its statement, the NBA said Beverley’s “history of unsportsmanlike acts” played a role in the length of the suspension.
The incident happened with just under four minutes left in the fourth quarter of a 115-105 Suns win. Suns star Devin Booker fouled Lakers guard Austin Reaves in the paint. Ayton approached Reaves and Beverley objected to this. He pushed Ayton to the ground, causing Beverley to be ejected. Booker received a flagrant 1 for his actions.
After the game, Booker called Beverley, saying he had to “stop pushing people in the back, man.”
Beverley, 34, is averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 assists in 14 games with the Lakers. He will begin serving his suspension on Friday.