NBA Notebook | Marbury back with N.Y.
LOS ANGELES - Stephon Marbury grinned as he made his way down the hall to the New York Knicks’ locker room, back in the fold but out some $182,000 because of a fine.
After skipping the game in Phoenix the previous night, Marbury flew from New York to Los Angeles to join the Knicks for their Wednesday night game against the Clippers.
“We had a conversation, and any conversations that we have within our team, we’ll try to keep those as private and in-house matters,” New York coach Isiah Thomas said.
Marbury came off the bench to score 13 points in 33 minutes as the Knicks lost 84-81.
Asked if he’s satisfied everything is smoothed over, Thomas didn’t answer directly but said: “I’m satisfied that I believe he’s capable of leading this team and he’s capable of playing great defense. When I see those two things, I think our team can take another step in this league.”
Marbury, surrounded by reporters in front of his locker, said, “This is not my battle to fight. I’m here to play basketball, and I’m just going to concentrate on that.”
Earlier Wednesday, the Knicks fined Marbury more than $180,000 for missing the Suns game, the latest clash between the disgruntled point guard and Thomas.
According to the NBA’s collective-bargaining agreement, players are docked 1/110th of their salaries for a missed game without a reasonable excuse. With Marbury scheduled to earn $20.1 million this season, that would be about $182,800.
Jackson reprimanded
HOUSTON - Coach Phil Jackson said he deserved the reprimand he got from the league for making a sexual reference in a comment after his Lakers lost in San Antonio.
The Spurs made 13 three-pointers in their 107-92 victory on Tuesday, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters.
“We call this a ‘Brokeback Mountain’ game, because there’s so much penetration and kickouts,” Jackson said. “It was one of those games.”
The 2005 film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.
“But in retrospect, it wasn’t really funny,” Jackson said Wednesday. “When you take it out of context, it wasn’t funny. It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA.”
Still, Jackson couldn’t resist making another joke as he apologized.
“If I’ve offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize,” Jackson said.
Said NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre: “The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future.”