NBA suspends Celtics' Allen for elbowing Varejao

PHILADELPHIA - The NBA suspended Boston guard Ray Allen one game without pay for elbowing Cleveland forward Anderson Varejao in the groin.

Allen sat out the Celtics' game in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, a meaningless game for Boston. Kevin Garnett also missed the game to rest his strained knee.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised Allen was suspended, but thought the target of the elbow played a role in the punishment.

"The bottom line to me is the foul before the incident," Rivers said. "If they'd call a foul, the incident may have never happened. I didn't know you could swing a guy around and sling him to the floor and that wasn't a foul."

The players got tangled under the basket after a free throw with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter of the Cavaliers' 107-76 victory on Sunday. Varejao flung Boston's guard to the floor, and Allen responded with his elbow. Allen will be docked more than $167,000 in salary.

Allen likely would have sat out the Sixers game anyway and Rivers said it was doubtful Allen or Paul Pierce would play in Wednesday's finale against Washington.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)