Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
DALLAS ó Lakers forward Ron Artest has been suspended from Game 3 of a second-round series against the Mavericks on Friday night for hitting Dallas guard J.J. Barea in the face with a forearm.
Los Angeles, already down 0-2, now will be playing a pivotal game without its starting small forward.
ěNo reaction,î Artest said Thursday in Los Angeles, prior to boarding a team flight to Dallas. ěIím just ready to move forward and play basketball.î
Barea was dribbing around Los Angelesí Lamar Odom with 24 seconds left in a game that had already been decided when Artest moved in and swung a forearm at the guardís head. Artest was ejected immediately. The league said Thursday he also would be assessed a flagrant foul. An accumulation of flagrant foul points could lead to another suspension.
ěNot surprised,î Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
Artest will lose more than $57,000. Heís expected to return for Game 4 on Sunday.
SHAQ UPDATE
WALTHAM, Mass. ó Shaquille O’Neal is expected to play for the Boston Celtics in the playoffs for the first time in Game 3 against the Miami Heat.
Coach Doc Rivers said Thursday the center likely will return from a right calf injury Saturday night against the Heat, who lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0.
O’Neal had missed 27 games with a sore right leg. He returned on April 4 against Detroit but lasted 5 minutes, 29 seconds before leaving with the calf problem.
Rivers said that barring a setback, O’Neal will play Saturday but won’t start.
O’Neal played 37 games this season, averaging 20.3 minutes, 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds.
WADE AND JORDAN
MIAMI ó Dwyane Wade grew up in Chicago idolizing Michael Jordan, and still remembers daydreaming about wearing the sneakers bearing his hometown hero’s name.
The Miami Heat star has come a long way.
Wade’s first signature shoe for Jordan Brand was released Thursday. In the planning stages for months, the “Fly Wade” is the lightest shoe in the Jordan line yet, and carries a retail price of $140.