The New York Knicks needed Stephon Marbury to play, then suspended him a game and docked him nearly $400,000 in salary Friday after claiming he refused. The disgruntled guard insists he never told Coach Mike D'Antoni "no" and plans to appeal. The New York Post reported Thursday that D'Antoni, after a number of changes to the roster, offered Marbury the opportunity to be the team's starting shooting guard the rest of the season.
Marbury will not be paid when he sits out Saturday's home game against Golden State and will lose an additional game's pay for Wednesday's actions. He earns approximately $21 million in salary this year, drawing about $190,000 a game. Marbury was not at the team's practice facility Friday. Allen Iverson apologized Friday for skipping a Detroit Pistons practice on Thanksgiving and insisted it won't happen again. "First of all, I have no excuses," Iverson said after Detroit's shootaround for its game against the Milwaukee Bucks. "It was a personal matter, but I just handled it the wrong way. I didn't call and let them know what was going on."
Coach Michael Curry said Iverson would be hit with a "heavy" fine and would not start against the Bucks. He wasn't sure if he would play. Rodney Stuckey will start in Iverson's place.
Spurs get Parker back
Tony Parker was expected to play for the Spurs on Friday night for the first time in 10 games since injuring his left ankle earlier this month. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said his All-Star guard would come off the bench against Memphis.
Nash misses game
Steve Nash sat out Friday night's Phoenix Suns game against the Miami Heat with a bruised right thigh. He was injured Wednesday when he collided with Minnesota's Kevin Love during the Suns' 110-102 victory.
Late Thursday
James Posey made a 3-pointer with 19.1 seconds left to lift the New Orleans Hornets to their fourth straight victory, 105-101 over the host Denver Nuggets. Chris Paul led the Hornets with 22 points and 10 assists, while J.R. Smith led the Nuggets with 32 points.
