Knicks' Marbury suspended, docked
The New York Knicks needed Stephon Marbury to play, then suspended him a game and docked him nearly $400,000 in salary yesterday after claiming he refused.
The disgruntled guard insists he never told coach Mike D'Antoni "no" and plans to appeal.
Just another chapter in Marbury's turbulent tenure with his team.
D'Antoni wouldn't go into specifics of their conversation that took place before Wednesday's loss in Detroit, though he made it clear he asked the point guard to play because the Knicks were shorthanded.
Marbury will not be paid when he sits out tonight's home game against Golden State and will lose an additional game's pay for Wednesday's actions. He earns approximately $21 million in salary this year, drawing about $190,000 a game.
Lakers 114, Mavericks 107 - Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 35 points, and host Los Angeles used a 17-0 run in the second half to beat Dallas for its sixth straight win to improve the NBA's best record to 13-1.
Andrew Bynum, playing on a sore right foot, had 18 points and 10 rebounds to help end Dallas's five-game winning streak. Bryant was 14 for 26 from the field. Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki had 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Heat 107, Suns 92 - Dwyane Wade scored a season-high 43 points and visiting Miami beat Phoenix in the first matchup between the teams since the Shaquille O'Neal-for-Shawn Marion blockbuster trade last February.
Neither O'Neal (12 points) nor Marion (10 points) was much of a factor in the game dominated by the unstoppable Wade.
Raptors 93, Hawks 88 - Chris Bosh had 30 points and 10 rebounds, Jason Kapono scored 16 points, and host Toronto defeated Atlanta.
Joey Graham added 11 points and Jamario Moon had 10 for Toronto, with guard Jose Calderon picking up 11 assists.
Cavaliers 112, Warriors 97 - LeBron James scored 23 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskas added a season-high 21, and Cleveland matched its best home start in franchise history with big win over Golden State.
Cleveland (13-3) has won 12 of 13 and is a league-best 9-0 at home, equaling its top home start, set in 1976-77 and repeated in 1991-92.
Trail Blazers 101, Hornets 86 - Brandon Roy had 25 points and 10 assists, and host Portland used a 17-point, second-half run to beat New Orleans. The Blazers improved to 7-0 this season at the Rose Garden, their best start at home since they went 9-0 in the 1998-99 season.
Jazz, 120, Kings 94 - Deron Williams had nine of his 15 assists during a 44-point third quarter, and Utah pulled away for a victory over Sacramento in Salt Lake City.
Bobcats 115, Pacers 108 - Raymond Felton tied a career high with 31 points and Charlotte beat Indiana in overtime in Indianapolis.
Timberwolves 105, Thunder 103 - Craig Smith scored a season-high 23 points, Mike Miller drilled the game-winning jumper from the left baseline with 0.1 seconds left, and Minnesota handed host Oklahoma City a franchise record-tying 14th straight loss.
Spurs 109, Grizzlies 98 - Tony Parker had 15 points and seven assists in his first game in three weeks because of ankle woes, leading host San Antonio over Memphis.
Pistons 107, Bucks 97 - Allen Iverson scored 17 points to lead host Detroit over Milwaukee, losers of three straight games. 