Nba Lifts Suspension After Abdul-Rauf Agrees To Stand

NBA

Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf decided Thursday he can’t stand to fight anymore.

So Abdul-Rauf, who set off a national debate this week over respect for the American flag and the national anthem, agreed to stand when “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played.

As a result, the NBA lifted its suspension of Abdul-Rauf and he will be in uniform tonight when the Nuggets play the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

Abdul-Rauf said instead of merely standing for the national anthem, he will be praying, perhaps with his hands steepled in traditional Muslim prayer.

Abdul-Rauf would have lost an average of $31,707 a game in salary for every game he remained on suspension.

He had said he would rather give up his basketball career than stand for the national anthem because it compromised his Muslim beliefs. He was not suspended until the actions became public Tuesday. By Thursday, Abdul-Rauf saw an alternative.

“Now I recognize there is a better approach,” Abdul-Rauf told ESPN in his only comments Thursday in Denver.

Abdul-Rauf declined to talk to the Denver media because he said he believes they wronged him by publicizing his personal protest. However, the local media failed to report on his protest for almost five months. It wasn’t until it became an issue on talk radio that his protest became more widely known.

“In Islam, after you make a decision and see that which is better, you do that. I understand there is something better,” he said.

“I don’t think I was in any way wrong in my stance,” Abdul-Rauf said. “I am surprised it went to the level it did. Am I sorry? No. Do I feel I’m wrong in what I did? No. This is what I believe. I was not wrong for the stance I took. In no way am I compromising.”

Bernard Bickerstaff Jr., son of Denver Nuggets coach and president Bernie Bickerstaff, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a south Greeley, Colo., motel, Greeley police said.

The younger Bickerstaff, a former student at Northern Colorado, was being held for investigation of aggravated robbery, police Sgt. John Gates said.

Payton suspended, fined

Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics has been suspended for one game without pay and fined $5,000 by the NBA for head-butting Orlando’s Joe Wolf during Wednesday night’s game in Seattle.

The incident occurred with 8:46 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Sonics’ 100-99 victory.

Payton, who will miss tonight’s game against Dallas, was ejected following the incident. The ejection carries an additional automatic $1,000 fine.

Bullets 100, Nets 92

East Rutherford, N.J.

Brent Price and Ledell Eackles hit late 3-pointers and Washington overcame Shawn Bradley’s first triple double.

Bradley had 19 points, a season-high 17 rebounds and a career-high 11 blocks in getting the triple double he missed by just two points two nights ago.

Washington (100) - Howard 9-21 7-8 25, Wallace 4-12 3-5 11, Muresan 6-11 4-4 16, Cheaney 1-8 1-2 3, B.Price 2-7 9-9 15, McIlvaine 0-3 0-0 0, Whitney 2-5 1-1 6, Eackles 2-6 7-8 13, Butler 1-1 0-0 2, McCann 3-3 3-4 9. Totals 30-77 35-41 100.

New Jersey (92) - Brown 7-15 3-5 17, Gilliam 9-18 2-4 20, Bradley 8-18 3-4 19, O’Bannon 1-5 0-0 2, Childs 3-9 2-2 8, Williams 2-5 1-2 5, Fleming 5-8 4-8 14, Graham 3-4 0-0 7, Dare 0-1 0-0 0, Reeves 0-0 0-0 0, Mahorn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-83 15-25 92.

Washington 25 20 27 28 - 100

New Jersey 27 20 17 28 - 92

3-Point goals-Washington 5-17 (Eackles 2-4, B.Price 2-7, Whitney 1-2, Cheaney 0-1, Wallace 0-3), New Jersey 1-6 (Graham 1-2, Childs 0-2, Fleming 0-2). Fouled out-Muresan. Rebounds-Washington 45 (Howard 9), New Jersey 63 (Bradley 17). Assists-Washington 15 (Howard 5), New Jersey 25 (Childs 8). Total fouls-Washington 23, New Jersey 30. Technicals-Washington illegal defense, Washington coach Lynam, New Jersey illegal defense, Williams. A-12,352 (20,029).

Cavaliers 98, Celtics 73

Cleveland

Chris Mills said he knew right away his jump shot was on target.

“I hit a couple shots early and I said, ‘Man, I’m pretty hot,’ so I just went with it,” the third-year forward said after scoring a career-high 30 points to lead Cleveland past Boston.

“Every time they had a four-man (power forward) switch out on me, I was going to try to take a shot or drive to the basket,” the small forward said. “I was just going to try and take it to the hoop, and if I didn’t make the basket, at least draw a foul and get to the line.”

Mills made 11 of 14 shots from the field and all six of his free throws. He scored Cleveland’s final eight points of the second quarter and first two of the second half.

Boston (73) - Fox 2-6 0-0 4, Smith 2-7 1-2 5, Montross 5-6 1-1 11, Minor 2-9 0-0 4, Wesley 6-10 2-4 16, Williams 3-7 0-0 6, Barros 2-6 1-1 6, Burrough 4-8 2-4 10, Day 3-12 0-0 7, Lister 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 31-73 7-12 73.

Cleveland (98) - Mills 11-14 6-6 30, Ferry 3-7 0-0 7, Cage 1-4 0-0 2, Majerle 8-15 0-1 21, Sura 4-13 2-2 11, Hill 5-11 2-3 12, Crotty 3-6 2-2 8, Marshall 1-5 3-6 5, Lang 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-78 15-20 98.

Boston 17 16 22 18 - 73

Cleveland 23 30 21 24 - 98

3-Point goals-Boston 4-15 (Wesley 2-4, Barros 1-3, Day 1-5, Fox 0-1, Minor 0-1, Williams 0-1), Cleveland 9-19 (Majerle 5-8, Mills 2-2, Ferry 1-3, Sura 1-3, Lang 0-1, Marshall 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Boston 48 (Montross 8), Cleveland 45 (Hill 11). Assists-Boston 20 (Wesley 5), Cleveland 26 (Crotty 11). Total fouls-Boston 20, Cleveland 16. Technical-Cleveland illegal defense. Flagrant foul- Williams. A-16,471 (20,562).

Spurs 120, Heat 100

San Antonio

Four players were ejected, but there was too much David Robinson as he scored 28 points to lead San Antonio to its eighth consecutive victory.

Person hit seven 3-pointers, giving him 1,002 in his career and tying him with Danny Ainge for third on the all-time list.

Miami (100) - W.Williams 5-9 0-0 10 , Thomas 2-7 0-2 4, Mourning 8-12 4-11 20 , Chapman 4-6 0-1 8, Hardaway 8-14 8-9 26, Askins 1-3 0-0 2, Gatling 7-13 0-0 14, T.Smith 0-1 0-0 0, King 0-0 0-0 0, Corbin 2-6 0-0 4, Lenard 4-9 0-1 12. Totals 41-80 12-24 100.

San Antonio (120) - Elliott 5-16 5-6 16, C.Smith 0-6 2-4 2, Robinson 9-22 10-13 28, Del Negro 7-14 11-11 27, Johnson 4-9 0-0 8, Perdue 2-2 0-0 4, Anderson 2-3 0-0 4, Rivers 0-0 0-0 0, Person 9-16 0-0 25, Alexander 1-1 0-0 2, Herrera 1-1 0-0 2, M.Williams 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 41-91 28-34 120.

Miami 31 20 19 30 - 100

San Antonio 17 39 34 30 - 120

3-Point goals-Miami 6-18 (Lenard 4-9, Hardaway 2-3, Chapman 0-1, Askins 0-1, T.Smith 0-1, W.Williams 0-3), San Antonio 10-21 (Person 7-12, Del Negro 2-3, Elliott 1-6). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Miami 49 (Mourning 11), San Antonio 58 (Robinson 18). Assists-Miami 24 (Hardaway 7), San Antonio 25 (Johnson 8). Total fouls-Miami 30, San Antonio 21. Technicals-Gatling, Miami illegal defense, Miami coach Riley, Chapman 2, Thomas, W.Williams Perdue 2, M.Williams. Flagrant fouls-Corbin. Ejections-Chapman, W.Williams, Perdue, M.Williams. A-19,595 (20,662).

Lakers 106, Warriors 103

Oakland, Calif.

Magic Johnson scored seven of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Los Angeles withstood two 3-pointers in the last 12 seconds to beat Golden State.

The game came to a chaotic conclusion when Elden Campbell leaped and pulled down Bimbo Coles’ 3-point try at the buzzer.

Golden State coach Rick Adelman ran onto the court and argued vehemently for a goaltending call, but his protest was futile.

L.A. Lakers (106) - Campbell 8-10 4-4 20, Ceballos 4-9 0-0 9, Divac 6-11 2-4 14, Jones 4-6 4-4 13, Van Exel 7-13 2-3 18, Johnson 6-12 9-10 21, Peeler 3-6 0-0 7, Threatt 2-4 0-0 4, Lynch 0-0 0-0 0, Strong 0-2 0-0 0, Blount 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-73 21-25 106.

Golden State (103) - Smith 11-17 4-6 28, Sprewell 5-16 6-7 17, Willis 7-17 2-4 17, Armstrong 5-8 2-2 14, Coles 7-14 0-0 16, Kersey 3-6 2-4 9, Marshall 0-3 0-0 0, Barry 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 39-84 16-23 103.

L.A. Lakers 34 22 24 26 - 106

Golden State 29 22 28 24 - 103

3-Point goals-Los Angeles 5-17 (Van Exel 2-5, Ceballos 1-2, Jones 1-2, Peeler 1-4, Threatt 0-1, Johnson 0-3), Golden State 9-21 (Smith 2-2, Armstrong 2-3, Coles 2-5, Kersey 1-1, Willis 1-2, Sprewell 1-5, Marshall 0-1, Barry 0-2). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Los Angeles 40 (Ceballos 9), Golden State 49 (Smith 13). Assists-Los Angeles 24 (Van Exel 7), Golden State 29 (Sprewell, Coles 8). Total fouls-Los Angeles 17, Golden State 21. Technicals-Los Angeles illegal defense 2, Kersey. A-15,025 (15,025).

Clippers 110, Mavericks 106

Anaheim, Calif.

Loy Vaught had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Pooh Richardson hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final two minutes as Los Angeles dealt Dallas its fifth straight loss.

Dallas (106) - McCloud 11-26 7-9 34, Jackson 6-9 2-4 18, L.Williams 0-1 1-2 1, Kidd 13-29 3-4 31, Dumas 4-11 0-2 10, Wood 1-3 2-4 4, Brooks 0-3 1-2 1, Meyer 1-1 1-2 3, Harris 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 38-87 17-29 106.

L.A. Clippers (110) - Vaught 9-13 2-4 20, Rogers 1-5 0-0 2, B.Williams 7-13 5-6 19, Richardson 7-14 0-0 18, Barry 4-9 2-2 12, Murray 0-1 2-4 2, Dehere 3-5 3-5 9, Roberts 5-11 3-5 13, Sealy 3-9 0-0 7, Outlaw 0-1 1-2 1, Piatkowski 2-4 2-2 7. Totals 41-85 20-30 110.

Dallas 28 21 34 23 - 106

L.A. Clippers 29 21 27 33 - 110

3-Point goals-Dallas 13-38 (McCloud 5-15, Jackson 4-5, Dumas 2-5, Kidd 2-10, Wood 0-2, Harris 0-1), Los Angeles 8-23 (Richardson 4-8, Barry 2-5, Piatkowski 1-2, Sealy 1-3, Vaught 0-1, Rogers 0-2, Dehere 0-2). Fouled out-Wood. Rebounds-Dallas 60 (Kidd 13), Los Angeles 55 (Vaught 14). Assists-Dallas 14 (Kidd 6), Los Angeles 13 (Richardson, Barry 3). Total fouls-Dallas 26, Los Angeles 27. Technicals-Los Angeles coach Fitch. A-14,452 (16,021).

Rockets 114, Hawks 106

Houston

Hakeem Olajuwon, playing despite a sore right knee, scored 38 points and led a third-quarter charge that carried Houston past Atlanta.

Atlanta (106) - Augmon 7-13 1-1 15, Long 3-6 1-2 7, Lattener 6-12 4-6 16, S.Smith 11-19 3-3 29, Blaylock 7-14 0-0 17, Henderson 1-4 2-4 4, Rooks 2-5 3-4 7, Ehlo 3-5 4-4 11, Jordan 0-2 0-0 0, Bullard 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 40-81 18-24 106.

Houston (114) - Horry 6-12 0-0 14, Brown 2-6 2-2 6, Olajuwon 17-21 4-6 38, Mack 5-9 0-0 15, Recasner 4-7 0-0 11, K.Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Bryant 4-7 3-3 11, Breaux 7-8 0-1 17, Chilcutt 0-1 0-0 0, Moore 1-2 0-0 2, Booker 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 46-76 9-12 114.

Atlanta 29 30 17 30 - 106

Houston 29 24 33 28 - 114

3-Point goals-Atlanta 8-16 (S.Smith 4-7, Blaylock 3-5, Ehlo 1-2, Long 0-2), Houston 13-27 (Mack 5-8, Breaux 3-4, Recasner 3-6, Horry 2-4, Chilcutt 0-1, Moore 0-1, Bryant 0-1, K.Smith 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Atlanta 43 (Long 10), Houston 37 (Olajuwon 9). Assists-Atlanta 24 (Blaylock 6), Houston 34 (Recasner 9). Total fouls-Atlanta 12, Houston 19. Technical-Bryant. A-16,285 (16,285).