NBA: Warriors forward Barnes avoids jail time after guilty plea

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Shaun Livingston #34 and Matt Barnes #22 of the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017, in Cleveland, Ohio. Barnes pleaded guilty Tuesday, June 27, 2017, to disorderly conduct but avoided jail time following a December incident at a New York nightclub. AFP

NEW YORK, United States — Golden State Warriors forward Matt Barnes pleaded guilty Tuesday to disorderly conduct but avoided jail time following a December incident at a New York nightclub.

Barnes was ordered to perform 10 days of community service and allowed to do the work in California. He was given until August 29, the next hearing date, to complete the work.

During Golden State’s playoff run to the NBA title, Barnes came off the bench to appear in 12 games, totaling nine points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

Charges came from an early morning incident involving Barnes when he was a member of the Sacramento Kings and former Kings star DeMarcus Cousins.

Video footage obtained by police appeared to show Barnes as the assailant of three people, with two women reported being choked by Barnes. Another man who ran to aid one of the women was sucker-punched.

Cousins was accused of delivering the punch but was recently cleared of wrongdoing by police.

A civil suit has been filed against Barnes and Cousins by plaintiffs Jasmine Besiso and Myrone Powell. CBB