Heat guard suspended for game

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-02-06 08:58

Miami Heat guard Gary Payton has been suspended by the NBA for one game without pay for verbally abusing officials in Saturday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 38-year-old, a veteran of 16 seasons in the NBA, will serve the suspension on Monday when the Heat host the Charlotte Bobcats.

Payton was guilty of "directing obscenities and other verbal abuse at game officials upon ejection", the NBA said in a statement.

The incident took place late in the second quarter of the Heat's 117-98 win over the Bucks when Payton was sent off by official Mark Davis for arguing against a call.

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