NEW YORK, March 27 (UPI) -- Indiana Pacers All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal was suspended for two games without pay and fined $10,000 by the NBA Wednesday for his altercation with several members of the Detroit Pistons.
O'Neal will have some company alongside him in street clothes. Teammates Jonathan Bender, Primoz Brezec and Bruno Sundov all were suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench during the incident, which occurred late in Tuesday's 97-78 loss.
The punishments were announced by NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, who also fined Pistons forward Corliss Williamson $5,000.
With 1:16 remaining, Williamson -- who had gotten the better of O'Neal all game -- drove the left baseline. As he went up for a layup, he was given a body block by O'Neal. Detroit coach Rick Carlisle called it "one of the worst cheap shots I've ever seen."
Williamson fired the ball at O'Neal from about five feet away, hitting him in the shoulder. Pistons forward Ben Wallace stepped between the players and O'Neal threw a forearm at Wallace. He later threw a forearm at Pistons swingman Michael Curry.
The NBA considered O'Neal to have thrown two punches. He will miss games at Orlando on Friday and at home against. Miami on Sunday.
The Pacers are 35-35 and holding onto the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. One of the teams chasing them is Miami (31-38), which trails Indiana by 3 1/2 games. Washington (33-38) is 2 1/2 games behind Indiana.
