Make wishtv.com your home page

Pacers’ JaKarr Sampson gets 1-game suspension for headbutting Mills

Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson (14) is held back by forward Justin Holiday (8) after he and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) exchange words during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 19, 2021. Sampson was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The already short-handed Indiana Pacers played Oklahoma City on Wednesday night without forward JaKarr Sampson after the NBA announced he would serve a one-game suspension following his ejection during Monday’s loss to San Antonio.

Sampson received a flagrant two foul and automatic ejection early in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. The incident began as Sampson and San Antonio guard Patty Mills fought for a rebound, resulting in a shoving match. Sampson then confronted Mills and headbutted him before Spurs forward Rudy Gay shoved Sampson.

Mills and Gay both received technical fouls for their part in the altercation. The league fined Mills $25,000 and Gay $20,000.

Before Wednesday night’s game, Indiana has lost three in a row, and Oklahoma City has lost 11 consecutive games.