The NBA has handed down its punishment to Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson after he headbutted San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills in the fourth quarter of Monday's game between the two teams.
Sampson has been suspended one game without pay. Mills and Spurs forward Rudy Gay have been fined for their roles in the skirmish.
The league has also fined Mills and Spurs forward Rudy Gay for their roles in the altercation. Full NBA announcement: pic.twitter.com/m7o4nuXPiW
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 21, 2021
The Spurs already led the Pacers by 14 with just under 10 minutes to play in the final period when Sampson and Mills took center stage.
Both players were clearly embracing the chippy nature of the previous possession as the Spurs brought the ball up the court. Mills essentially ran straight into Sampson, who clearly did not appreciate the gesture. He immediately shoved Mills and headbutted him in the ensuing standoff.
The headbutt prompted Gay to get involved. He started walking toward Sampson as if he were going to swing before the sides were separated.
Sampson was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected from the game. Mills and Gay were each given technicals.
It really has been that kind of season for Sampson and the Pacers. Indiana entered the 2020-21 campaign as one of the more notable playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference. But things have hardly gone swimmingly for first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren.
Indiana's loss to the Spurs dropped it to 26-31 on the season. The Pacers are in the ninth spot in the East, just two games up on both the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. These next three weeks will come to define Indiana's campaign.
Sampson will miss the team's matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
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