Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, left, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes reach for the ball in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City on Feb. 8, 2015. AP
NEW YORK, United States — Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Saturday after trying to force his way into the locker room of the rival Milwaukee Bucks.
The ban was issued for Barnes’s attempt to enter the locker room and his verbal challenge of Milwaukee forward John Henson after both players had been ejected from Thursday’s 96-86 Bucks’ home triumph.
READ: NBA: Grizzlies forward Barnes fined for Fisher remarks | NBA: Grizzlies’ Barnes suspended 2 games
Barnes, averaging 9.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game in his 13th NBA season, will miss Saturday’s Memphis home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
In addition to the ban, Milwaukee guard Greivis Vasquez was fined $15,000 for following Henson to the locker room. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and center Greg Monroe were each fined $10,000 for lesser roles in the incident.
Henson blocked a Barnes shot with only 5.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. After the play, Henson taunted Barnes and was subsequently whistled for two technical fouls and ejected.
Barnes, 36, was then charged with a technical foul and ejected for a profanity-laced tirade.
At 39-30, the Grizzlies are fifth in the Western Conference, five games ahead of the last playoff spot. The Bucks, 30-39, are five games behind Chicago for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot with 13 games remaining.