Lakers center Jaxson Hayes suspended one game for shoving Wizards mascot
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The NBA on Wednesday suspended Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes for one game without pay after he pushed the Washington Wizards’ mascot during pre-game introductions last week.
The incident took place Jan. 30 at Capital One Arena. As mascot G-Wiz sprinted past the Lakers’ bench waving an oversized Wizards flag, Hayes lowered his shoulder into the mascot, who then collided with a member of the Wizards dance team.
Hayes, 25, came off the bench in that contest, recording 10 points and three rebounds in the Lakers’ 142-111 victory. He also appeared in the final two matchups of Los Angeles’ eight-game road swing that concluded earlier this week.
The league said Hayes will serve the suspension Thursday when the Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena.
In his first season with Los Angeles, the 6-foot-11 reserve center is averaging 6.4 points on 77.5% shooting and 3.8 rebounds. League sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that Hayes has accepted an invitation to participate in this month’s Slam Dunk Contest.
Source: ESPN
