Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has been suspended one game without pay for elbowing Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk in the back of the neck during Monday's game, the NBA announced Tuesday.
The play in question occurred with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter. Whiteside appeared to throw one elbow at Olynyk, then hit him with another - from behind - under the basket.
Whiteside was subsequently ejected for the dirty play.
After the game, Heat teammate Dwyane Wade said the team was disappointed in Whiteside, whose lack of self control on the night made him unreliable.
Whiteside has been a revelation this season, averaging 10.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in only 22 minutes per night in his first real, extended NBA opportunity.
A second round pick of the Sacramento Kings in 2010, Whiteside's talent and potential has rarely been called into question. His maturity, however, is another matter, something that is now once again in the spotlight, although he did reach out to Olynyk afterwards.
Whiteside: “I feel terrible about it. Probably the worst 12 hours of my life.”
— Joseph Goodman (@JoeGoodmanJr) March 10, 2015
