NEW YORK – Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva was suspended for five games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday for initiating an on-court altercation with Cleveland's Ryan Hollins, trying to get at the Cavaliers' bench and twice attempting to enter their locker room.
With 5:47 left in the Pistons' 110-101 home loss to the Cavaliers on Monday night, Villanueva and Hollins got tangled in a screen and grabbed each other the neck area.
Villanueva attempted to get at Cleveland's bench and had to be restrained by teammates and security personnel. He left the floor, then twice attempted to enter the Cavs' locker room.
Villanueva served the first game of the suspension Wednesday night in Detroit's season finale in Philadelphia. The remaining four games will be served next season.
Cleveland coach Byron Scott was asked if he felt the suspension was appropriate.
"How much does he make?" Scott said Wednesday night before the Cavs played Washington in their season finale. "It might be a pretty good little chunk. I didn't know it was going to be that many games. But the fact that you're running toward the locker room and going into the locker room of the opposing team, obviously they are gong to hit you pretty hard. I still don't understand what he was doing. Only Charlie knows."
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.
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