Metta World Peace suspended seven games
Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace gives an elbow to Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden, behind him, earning him a double flagrant foul and ejection from the game, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles. (April 22, 2012) Credit: AP
The NBA announced Tuesday that Lakers forward Metta World Peace was suspended seven games for his elbow to the head of Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden.
In the second quarter of the Lakers' 114-106 win over the Thunder Sunday, World Peace turned after dunking on Kevin Durant and elbowed Harden in the head.
After the game, World Peace insisted that the elbow was unintentional. Video replay suggested otherwise, with World Peace swinging his elbow after bumping into Harden.
Harden, who suffered a concussion as a result of the elbow, has not been cleared to return.
NBA commissioner David Stern mentioned the concussion in leveling the suspension.
“The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area," Stern said. "We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."
Los Angeles has one more regular season game before the playoffs. The suspension would keep World Peace out until, the earliest, Game 7 of the Lakers' first round match-up.
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