Trevor Ariza Suspended One Game
December 15, 2009
Forward Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets has been suspended for a game by the NBA after he was ejected from a game in Toronto for throwing a forearm at Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan. The suspension was handed down on Monday and Ariza will sit for Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons.
Ariza has played a big role for the Rockets this season as he has put up 17 points per game, second on the team. Ariza has started every game this season and leads the team with 38.7 minutes per game. The Rockets acquired Ariza in the offseason after Ron Artest bolted for the Los Angeles Lakers. His averages in scoring, assists (3.4) and rebounds (5.3) so far this year would all be career highs.
Ariza may have lost his temper in part due to frustration as he was 0-for-9 from the floor with only a single point before being tossed in the third quarter.
An option for head coach Rick Adelman will be to use Tracy McGrady is Ariza’s absence. McGrady has not played at all this season as he is working his way back from miscrofracture surgery on his left knee. Ariza’s absence on Tuesday could mean more minutes for rookies Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor, who’ve contributed in a reserve role this season.
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