Nene, DeJuan Blair, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas have each been suspended from the Washington Wizards' regular-season opener after leaving the bench during a scuffle in Monday night's preseason game against the Chicago Bulls. Joakim Noah and Paul Pierce were also each fined $15,000 for instigating the incident.
Nene, DeJuan Blair suspended for season opener after Bulls-Wizards altercation
Joakim Noah and Paul Pierce have also been fined $15,000.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Here’s what happened:
This is what the four players did to warrant the suspension:
The Wizards defeated the Bulls in a tough five-game series in the first round of last season’s playoffs. Though Pierce is a new addition to Washington, it’s becoming clear the Wizards want to send a message that they won’t be pushed around this season.
Washington's depth has suddenly taken a hit for its season opener on the road against the Miami Heat on Oct. 29. The Wizards do still have seven preseason games left before the regular season starts.
Without Nene, Washington's starter at power forward, and a key reserve in Blair, the Wizards will have to rely on Marcin Gortat, Kris Humphries and Kevin Seraphin in the front court against Miami.
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