Pacers guard Stephen Jackson has been suspended for Monday night's game at Chicago for conduct detrimental to the team during Saturday night's loss at Cleveland.
Indiana's ugly 107-75 loss was compounded by an incident in the first
half involving Jackson, who was kicked off the Pacers' bench by
coach Rick Carlisle.
Late in the second quarter, Jackson was pulled by Carlisle and
the two had words. Carlisle then pointed for Jackson to leave the
bench area, banishing the fiery guard to the locker room for the
remainder of the game.
"I substituted for him. He came to the bench and an exchange
ensued that I thought was inappropriate and detrimental to the
team," Carlisle said. "So I made a decision to remove him from
the bench.
"These games are difficult. If you don't have everybody with a
laser-like focus on one task, which is playing like a team and
competing hard, it gets even more difficult."
It's the latest controversy surrounding Jackson. The 28-year-old
is facing charges of firing a gun during a fight outside a strip
club in Indianapolis on Oct. 6. He could go to trial in February.
Two years ago, Jackson went into the stands and fought Detroit
fans during the Pacers' infamous brawl with fans in Detroit.
Following the game, Jackson was on his way out of Quicken Loans
Arena, escorted by two security personnel, when Pacers assistant
coach Chuck Person summoned to have him brought back to the locker
room.
Jackson went inside for a moment before leaving again. On his
way out, Jackson declined an interview request.
"No," he said. "I'm cool."
Jackson's teammates had little to say afterward.
"Oh, no," said forward Al Harrington. "Hear no evil, see no
evil."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.