NBA | Referee banned for picking fight

NEW YORK - Joey Crawford is done ejecting players and coaches this season. Yesterday, he was the one getting tossed.

The veteran NBA referee was suspended indefinitely by commissioner David Stern for his conduct toward Tim Duncan, who contends the official challenged him to a fight in Dallas.

Crawford has worked more postseason games than any active ref. His suspension will last at least through the NBA Finals, and he apparently will have to meet with Stern after that to discuss reinstatement.

"Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted," Stern said in a statement. "Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor."

Crawford ejected Duncan from San Antonio's loss Sunday after calling a second technical foul on the Spurs star while he was laughing on the bench.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?' " Duncan said. "If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?' "

The NBA also fined Duncan $25,000 for verbal abuse of an official. Crawford said Duncan referred to him by an expletive.

A West Chester resident, Crawford is the son of former major-league umpire Shag Crawford and brother of umpire Jerry Crawford. He suffered a knee injury Dec. 8 during the 76ers' game with Washington at the Wachovia Center and missed several games.

His temper has gotten him noticed before, especially in Game 2 of the 2003 Western Conference finals, a matchup of the same teams as on Sunday. Crawford called four technical fouls in the first 10-plus minutes, leading to ejections of then-Mavs coach Don Nelson and assistant Del Harris.

Crawford also called a technical in a recent game against Duncan, who said Sunday that Crawford has a "personal vendetta against me."

West leaving Grizzlies. Jerry West will leave as the Memphis Grizzlies' director of basketball operations July 1, saying he's weary of the turmoil. West, 68, will end a five-year stint with the Grizzlies, who have the league's worst record.

An NBA great as a player and executive with the Los Angeles Lakers, he came out of retirement to help Memphis reach three straight playoffs - but set a league record for 12 straight postseason losses. Monday, majority owner Michael Heisley said he would abandon his yearlong pursuit of selling the franchise if he does not have a viable offer by May 1.

Sonics leaving? SuperSonics majority owner Clay Bennett says the team likely will not play in Seattle beyond 2007-08.

Bennett said yesterday that Gov. Chris Gregoire would not call lawmakers into special session so the team could continue to push for a new $500 million arena. Bennett, a prominent Oklahoma City businessman, had promised to keep the team in the Seattle area if a deal could be struck for an arena.

Magic 95, Wizards 89

WASHINGTON - Orlando overcame Antawn Jamison's 48 points and kept up a push to improve their playoff seeding with a win over Washington.

Hedo Turkoglu scored 26 to lead the Magic, who are eighth in the East but could be sixth if they beat Miami on Wednesday.

Pistons 100, Raptors 84

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Richard Hamilton scored 10 first-half points and Detroit beat Toronto. Neither team had anything to play for (the Pistons will top the East and Toronto will be No. 3), but Detroit coach Flip Saunders didn't want a repeat of his team's feeble loss to the Sixers.

Hawks 118, Pacers 102

ATLANTA - Atlanta set season highs for points in a quarter and a half and beat Indiana to end another disappointing season. The Hawks missed the playoffs for the eighth year but had 30 wins for the first time since 2002-03.