CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown was ejected after picking up two technicals in 3 seconds early in the second quarter against Milwaukee.
One possession after Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace hit the floor after a hard pick by Kurt Thomas without a foul being called, referee Bill Spooner hit Brown with a technical. Brown continued to protest, and Spooner called another technical from across the floor.
Before walking to the locker room, Brown stopped to talk to owner Michael Jordan, who sits near the end of Charlotte’s bench.
Injured Grizzlies out for season
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Grizzlies center Marc Gasol and guard Ronnie Brewer will miss the team’s final eight games of the season because of injuries. The 7-foot-1 Gasol missed five games between March 16-24 after partially tearing a neck muscle March 13 against Denver. He aggravated the injury Wednesday night against Dallas. Gasol has career highs with 14.6 points and 9.3 rebounds. He also is shooting a franchise-record 58.1 percent and leads all second-year players in that category and rebounding. Brewer partially tore his right hamstring Feb. 19 in his first game after the Grizzlies traded for him from Utah. He missed 13 games with that injury and had played in only four games since. His last was March 22 at Sacramento.
Cavs’ Varejao out
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers reserve forward Anderson Varejao missed his third straight game with a sore left hamstring. Cavs coach Mike Brown said the team decided to keep Varejao out of Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks as a precaution. Varejao, who injured his hamstring a week ago in a loss at San Antonio, could return for Sunday’s game in Boston.
Garnett fined for ripping refs
NEW YORK — Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has been fined $25,000 for criticizing game officials and for using inappropriate language during a postgame interview. Garnett made the comments following Boston’s 109-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
Rondo sets Celtics assist mark
BOSTON — Rajon Rondo is the Boston Celtics’ single-season assist leader. Rondo came into Friday night’s game against the Houston Rockets with 714 assists, one short of Bob Cousy’s total in 1959-60. Rondo picked up a pair of assists early in the first, the second to set up Kevin Garnett with 8:45 to go in the quarter.
Knicks sign Barron
OAKLAND, Calif. — The New York Knicks have signed free agent center Earl Barron to a 10-day contract. Barron had been playing for Iowa in the NBA Development League. The 7-footer was averaging 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds for Iowa.
Spurs’ Popovich tossed
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the second quarter against the Orlando Magic on Friday night for arguing with officials. Popovich got his first technical just 4½ minutes into the game while protesting three early fouls against Spurs forward Tim Duncan, who sat for the remainder of the first half. Popovich was then ejected by official Tony Brown in the second quarter after arguing for a foul against Dwight Howard on Manu Ginobili’s drive.
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