Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson has been suspended one game for his actions in Monday's 92-74 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Raptors lost Johnson when he was ejected with 5:01 left in the third quarter after getting involved in a 'tug-of-war' for the basketball with referee David Jones.
After Trail Blazers forward J.J. Hickson scored on his first attempt from the free-throw line, Jones retrieved the ball to send it back to Hickson for his second shot. Johnson stepped in and attempted to pull the ball from Jones' hands and the two exchanged words before Johnson was ejected.
While being held back by teammates, Johnson threw his mouthpiece at Jones and fellow players had to restrain him before he was escorted from the floor.
Following the game, Johnson said that before free throws he has a habit of rubbing the ball and then passing it to the ref.
"I guess the ref didn't let me have the ball so we kind of got into a tug of war," he said. "No words were really said and he rejected me out of the game and I kind of lost my cool from there."
Johnson, a reserve forward/centre, is averaging 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds this season. He finished the game with four points and four rebounds in just over 10 minutes.
