Maxwell Plans To Show Appealing Side

Houston guard Vernon Maxwell, suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000 for attacking a fan, will appeal his punishment, saying the NBA did not know the reasons behind his action.

“First, I don’t believe the NBA has all the information about the fan’s conduct that provoked this incident and I believe the punishment would not have been as harsh had they known about it,” Maxwell said in a statement read by his attorney, Dick DeGuerin.

Maxwell said he expected to be heckled, but he acted when the remarks became racial and obscene toward his family.

“Monday afternoon, I learned my wife had been admitted to the hospital on an emergency basis,” Maxwell said. “I wanted to come back to Houston then to be with her, but decided to stay and play the game.

“When he began involving my daughter Amber in his obscene, abusive and racial remarks, I decided I’d had enough and I rushed into the stands.

Maxwell was suspended on Wednesday for going a dozen rows into the stands and punching a heckler during a game at Portland two nights earlier.

The fine matched the highest in league history and the suspension was the second longest.

Your Pre All-Star lineup …

Players scheduled to participate in the slam dunk contest at America West Arena in Phoenix during AllStar Saturday include: Tony Dumas, Dallas; Antonio Harvey, L.A. Lakers; Harold Miner, Miami; Tim Perry, Philadelphia; Isaiah Rider; Minnesota; and Jamie Watson, Utah.

Players scheduled to participate in the Schick rookie game Saturday are:

White Team - Donyell Marshall, Minnesota; Eric Montross, Boston; Lamond Murray, L.A. Clippers; Wesley Person, Phoenix; Khalid Reeves, Miami; Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee; Clifford Rozier, Golden State; and Trevor Ruffin, Phoenix.

Green Team - Brian Grant, Sacramento; Juwan Howard, Washington; Eddie Jones, L.A. Lakers; Jason Kidd, Dallas; Jalen Rose, Denver; Michael Smith, Sacramento; Anthony Tucker, Washington; Sharone Wright, Philadelphia.

Oakley’s expensive suit

New York Knicks forward Charles Oakley has been accused in a $2.5 million lawsuit of hitting a security guard during a special event at Tavern on the Green when asked to show a ticket.

Chris Nunez, 23, said Oakley arrived at the restaurant last June 16 and entered without showing a ticket.

Nunez’s court papers said he asked Oakley to step out of the room and he “responded with abusive and derogatory language, and thereupon struck plaintiff upon the neck.”