Matt Barnes has been suspended for one game by the NBA for "attempting to enter the Milwaukee Bucks' locker room and verbally challenging Milwaukee forward John Henson," the league announced. He will serve his suspension on Saturday, when the Grizzlies face the Clippers.
Matt Barnes suspended 1 game for incident with John Henson
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greivis Vasquez and Greg Monroe have been fined.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Greivis Vasquez was fined $15,000 for following Henson to the locker room while Greg Monroe and Giannis Antetokounmpo were fined $10,000 for their role in the incident.
As with most situations of this nature, it was completely avoidable. With 5.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Henson blocked Barnes’ shot and stared him down, taunting him. Barnes took offense and went after him before officials stepped in. Both players were given a technical. Since it was Henson’s second, he was ejected from the game. Barnes got himself ejected as well for using obscenities and immediately ran to the locker room.
It was speculated at the time that he was pursuing Henson, which has been confirmed by the league in their report. Barnes actually denies that, saying that an arena worker led him to the wrong room, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Ben Bolch:
“I got led into the wrong room, so once I realized I wasn’t where I was supposed to be, I left and went into my locker room.”
Fortunately, the situation didn’t escalate. Barnes didn’t get into the locker room and Henson was asked to wait in the arena until the Grizzlies’ bus had departed.
Barnes was suspended two games earlier in the season following an off-court incident with then Knicks coach Derek Fisher.
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