Lamar Odom Gets One-Game Suspension

After Trevor Ariza’s hard foul Monday night, a little scrum broke out around Ariza. And Lamar Odom jumped in to defend him.

Problem was, Odom was out of the game at the time. And leaving the bench is a big no-no in the NBA, which doesn’t want the 70s hockey fight feel to anything altercations. Odom said after the game he didn't but the video evidence told a different story (Kurt Rambis had to push him back to the bench).

NBA executive vice president of operations Stu Jackson Tuesday afternoon handed Odom a one-game suspension for leaving the immediate vicinity of the bench. Odom will sit out Wednesday night’s game against Houston.

Odom could use a night off, and maybe a little kick. After several weeks of great play after Bynum went down, Odom’s last four games have been forgettable. Against Portland, he had eight rebounds but did little to keep the Portland front line from grabbing offensive rebounds.

Odom will be back on Thursday night against San Antonio.