NBA SUSPENDS RIDER FOR SPITTING: Isaiah Rider of the Portland Trail Blazers drew another suspension Friday as he was banned for three games and fined $10,000 for spitting at a fan in Detroit.
The incident happened at halftime of Thursday night's 93-87 victory over the Pistons, and the ensuing suspension brought a quick response from Rider's agent and the players' union."The NBA made no effort whatsoever to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident," players association director Billy Hunter said. "Had it done so, the NBA would have found that J.R. was provoked by a visibly drunken fan who physically and verbally abused J.R. and his family.
"While no one condones spitting, the league must behave responsibly by fully investigating the circumstances rather than acting first and asking questions later," Hunter said.
SHAQ OUT AT LEAST 10 DAYS: The Los Angeles Lakers will have to continue their quest for the best start in NBA history without center Shaquille O'Neal.
Hampered by a strained abdominal muscle on and off since the start of training camp, O'Neal will be sidelined for at least 10 days after re-aggravating the injury in a game against Minnesota on Wednesday.
The announcement means O'Neal will miss at least five games, but Black said the Lakers would not immediately place him on the injured list.
SUNS TRADE CHAMBERS: The Philadelphia 76ers traded Marko Milic to the Phoenix Suns for veteran Tom Chambers on Friday.
The team also placed Derrick Coleman on the injured list with an irregular heartbeat.
Signed by the Suns as a free agent in August, he has spent the first eight games of the season on the injured list with a back strain.
Chambers was a 1981 first-round draft pick for the San Diego Clippers, where he spent two seasons. He also played four seasons in Seattle, five in Phoenix, two in Utah, one in Israel and last season in Charlotte.
Milic, drafted by the 76ers in the second round this year, spent the first nine games of the season on the injured list with a lower back strain.
SHINN OFF HOOK: Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn will not face sexual misconduct charges, though something likely happened between Shinn and a woman at his suburban mansion, York, S.C., prosecutor Tommy Pope said Friday.