The Washington Wizards’ Brendan Haywood and Larry Hughes could face suspensions for their part in a fight during Monday night’s preseason game against the Bulls in Chicago.
Haywood, who took a swing at Chicago’s Antonio Davis in the third quarter of the Wizards’ 100-95 loss, almost certainly will be suspended for the team’s Nov. 3 opener. Meanwhile, Hughes, who had less of a role in the third-quarter fight, also could face disciplinary action.
If the ruling, which could come as early as today, includes suspensions, the Wizards will open the season without three starters.
NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, who spent much of yesterday meeting with the NBA Board of Governors — of which Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld is a member — did not watch the video tape of the incident. However, he almost certainly will watch it today and make a ruling.
Surprisingly, Haywood was not ejected from the game, which is mandatory whenever a player throws a punch. Davis was ejected, as was Wizards forward Michael Ruffin, who appeared to be more of a peacemaker during the fracas.
The skirmish was caused when Hughes shoved the Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich into a fast-breaking Luol Deng, knocking the rookie forward to the floor. Haywood then pushed Hinrich as the latter exchanged words with Hughes. Haywood then swung at Davis and Davis retaliated, first throwing a punch and eventually wrestling Haywood to the floor. Bulls center Eddy Curry punched Haywood while the Wizards center was on the floor.
Calls to Grunfeld and Wizards coach Eddie Jordan yesterday went unreturned.
Any suspensions will further deplete an already thin Wizards team.
Last year’s leading scorer, Gilbert Arenas, will miss the opener as a result of his guilty plea to possession of an unregistered gun in California. Steve Blake, Arenas’ backup at the point, had ankle surgery at the start of September and it is believed he won’t be available to the team until late November.
Kwame Brown is healing from surgery on the small toe on his right foot, an injury he suffered playing pickup basketball in Georgia. He has said he could be back by the middle of November, but the team will wait until he’s healed.
The status of backup center Etan Thomas, whom the Wizards retained this summer with a $38 million contract, is also uncertain. He strained his abdomen on the next-to-last day of training camp and has missed all seven of the team’s preseason games. He too may not be available at the start of the season.
Notes — The Wizards will cut the roster to 15 players by Sunday. The team officials say the race for the 15th and final roster spot will come down to Bill Thomas, Laron Profit and Gerald Fitch, but the team released its media guide and it includes Fitch with his bio and photo.
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