It certainly didn’t look intentional, but an elbow to the face is an elbow to the face – and you get a suspension for that.
The Phoenix Suns’ Markieff Morris has been suspended one game — most likely opening night, he is healthy — for elbowing the Thunder’s Serge Ibaka in the head during a Tuesday night preseason game.
With 6:42 remaining in the third quarter, Oklahoma City’s Reggie Jackson was taking a free throw and Morris was in the first rebounding position, with the job of boxing out Ibaka. As they both pushed for rebounding position Morris’ elbow got up and cleanly caught Ibaka in the face. (You can see the video by following this link.) Not intentional, but still a foul to the head, which the league frowns on.
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The Suns open the season at home Oct. 30 against Portland.
Morris is the starting power forward and the guy getting the bulk of the minutes. Channing Frye will get the start but he’s not healthy enough to take on all those minutes, so look for some interesting lineups and some Miles Plumlee.