Rajon Rondo. AFP FILE PHOTO
NEW YORK—Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo was suspended by the NBA for one game on Monday after bumping into a referee during a playoff game on Sunday.
Stu Jackson, the NBA vice president of basketball operations, announced the punishment, which came over an incident that took place with 41 seconds to play in the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s 83-74 home victory over Boston.
Rondo will miss game two in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Rondo walked up behind the official and bumped into him and was immediately whistled for the move. The Boston standout claimed after the game that the official stopped unexpectedly and that he tripped into the back of him.
In game one, Rondo scored 20 points and passed out a game-high 11 assists in addition to making a game-high four steals for the Celtics.