In the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, guard Patrick Beverley violently shoved Suns big man Deandre Ayton and was ejected.
Beverley maintained after the game that he did so because Ayton was apparently taunting Austin Reaves, who was on the ground after taking a shot to the face from Devin Booker that was ruled a flagrant foul.
In fact, Reaves came to Beverley’s defense afterward.
In a move that wasn’t exactly surprising, the NBA levied a three-game suspension on Beverley on Thursday. He will be out until Wednesday, Nov. 30 when L.A. hosts the Portland Trail Blazers.
Details of Patrick Beverley’s 3-game suspension below: pic.twitter.com/jBumqMrk7s
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) November 24, 2022
The Lakers may not miss Beverley’s ice-cold shooting (he’s shooting just 26.6% overall and 23.8% from 3-point range this season), but they will miss his defensive intensity, not to mention his leadership on that end of the floor.
