The Cleveland Cavaliers announced Thursday that J.R. Smith has been suspended one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.” It turns out that conduct was actually throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones, according to a report from ESPN.
J.R. Smith suspended for throwing a bowl of soup at an assistant coach
Smith missed Thursday night’s game against the 76ers for throwing soup.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Smith is returning to practice on Friday, according to the report. He did not suit up for Cleveland’s March 1 home matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Rodney Hood started in his place, and Smith is expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday.
Initially, there were no specifics on what Smith did. On Thursday, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said “something happened after shootaround” that led to the suspension.
The next day, Lue acknowledged a conversation with Smith, but declined to elaborate.
Smith has started at the shooting guard slot since the Cavaliers moved Dwyane Wade to the bench prior to his trade. In his 59 games played this season (56 starts), he is averaging 8.3 points on sub-40 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from three. Smith has been on a cold shooting streak, missing 17 of his last 22 field goal attempts.
Hood is averaging 11.2 points per game since being acquired in the massive three-team trade that revamped Cleveland’s lineup midseason. He is shooting 46 percent from the field and 42 percent from three.
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