CLIPPERS: Longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith were suspended one game by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi .
Lawler and Smith made their off-the-cuff comments about the Iranian-born center during Wednesday night's telecast from Memphis. The on-air banter offended a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain.
The duo did not work Friday's night telecast against Denver. Michael Eaves and Don MacLean , who regularly serve as halftime and postgame analysts on the Clippers telecasts, substituted for Lawler and Smith at courtside.
Lawler, 71, is in his 31st season doing Clippers games, and Smith is in his 12th, accord-ing to the team's Web site.
"We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday's telecast," Fox said in a statement about 21/2 hours before the game. "While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate."
CAVALIERS: Center Shaquille O'Neal was out for Saturday's game against Philadelphia, the fifth consecutive game he has missed with a shoulder injury.
O'Neal hasn't played since a Nov. 12 win over Miami.
Coach Mike Brown said before Saturday's game that O'Neal won't play again until he practices. The team is off today and doesn't play again until Nov. 25 at Detroit.
Brown is closely monitoring O'Neal's minutes to try and keep him fresh for the second half of the season and playoffs.
O'Neal has averaged 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in nine games.
KNICKS: The team will honor Yankees manager Joe Girardi with the November "City Spirit" Award, given to someone who's made a "significant difference in the lives of others" during today's game against Boston.
Driving home the night of the World Series clincher, Girardi stopped to aid a motorist who had been injured in an accident.
THUNDER: Assigned rookie center Byron Mullens and guard Kyle Weaver to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
