Cavaliers suspend J.R. Smith 1 game for ‘conduct detrimental’ to team
It’s unclear what Smith did, but Rodney Hood will start for Cleveland’s Thursday night game vs. Philadelphia.
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Thursday that J.R. Smith has been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. He will not suit up for Cleveland’s March 1 home matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Rodney Hood will start in his place, and Smith is expected to return to the starting lineup on Saturday.
There are no specifics available at this time as to what Smith did to warrant being suspended, but according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said “something happened after shootaround” that led to the suspension.
Tyronn Lue said “something happened after shootaround” today that led to JR Smith’s one-game suspension. Lue said Smith will be back at practice Friday and be back in the starting lineup on Saturday. Rodney Hood will start tonight.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 1, 2018
Smith has started at the shooting guard slot since the Cavaliers moved Dwyane Wade to the bench prior to his trade. In his 59 games played this season (56 starts), he is averaging 8.3 points on sub-40 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from three. Smith has been on a cold shooting streak, missing 17 of his last 22 field goal attempts.
Hood is averaging 11.2 points per game since being acquired in the massive three-team trade that revamped Cleveland’s lineup midseason. He is shooting 46 percent from the field and 42 percent from three.