Haslem, Pittman suspended for fracas with Pacers

The NBA has suspended Miami center Dexter Pittman for three games and Miami forward Udonis Haslem for a game for their actions during the Heat’s Game 5 victory over  Indiana.

Pittman’s penalty came for striking the neck and shoulders of Indiana guard Lance Stephenson.  And Haslem has been suspended for striking the head and shoulders of Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough.

Both Pittman and Haslem had their Flagrant Fouls Ones upgraded to Flagrant Foul Twos, as did Hansbrough. His penalty came after he struck the head of Miami’s Dwyane Wade on a foul that preceded Haslem’s foul, opening a cut over Wade’s eye.

Haslem will serve his suspension on Thursday when the Pacers host the Heat in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Pittman will begin serving his suspension in Game 6.

The departures will hurt the Heat, who are already struggling with their inside depth with Chris Bosh out with an injury. The Heat will have only three inside players for Game 6 and likely will have to activate seldom-used reserve Eddy Curry for Thursday’s game.

Haslem was a huge factor in the Heat’s Game 4 victory in Indiana, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

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