Garnett likely to draw suspension

Expect Kevin Garnett to be suspended for throwing a punch for the second time in three seasons.
The mandatory one-game suspension looks unavoidable even though Garnett threw more of a slap than a punch, but the Celtics star would undoubtedly appreciate it if Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut joins him on an unpaid vacation day.
Here's the DVR slo-mo skinny from the altercation between Garnett and Bogut with in the fourth quarter at Milwaukee's Bradley Center:
Bogut drives in on a leave from Ramon Sessions, cuts in hard and goes right at Garnett, going up on him with his left hand. As he's met at the rim, Bogut extends his right elbow and catches Garnett's face with it while the ball is blocked out of his hands. Bogut grabs the loose ball, goes back up and is immediately fouled. As he's coming down, Bogut clumsily falls forward and swings his left arm downward, catching Garnett with another elbow. As they pull apart from their mid-air tussle, Garnett reaches out with his left arm and smacks Bogut in the forehead. Bogut recoils like he's been doused by a tidal wave and starts crying foul, wondering why he was hit. Garnett then looks at him puts his hand to his lip and wipes, indicating that Bogut knows exactly what he did. Referee Eli Roe came between them and no other players got involved. Both received technical fouls and since Bogut had already accrued one, he was ejected. Garnett later fouled out in overtime.
Garnett was suspended in Jan. 2007 for throwing an errant punch at Detroit's Antonio McDyess that looked a little like the slap he threw Bogut's way.
It will be interesting to see what Stu Jackson does with the Australian 7-footer, who I think should get a one-game penalty because he slyly did initiate antagonizing contact with Garnett twice on the play. Odds are good that the NBA continues its stern stance on situations like these.
My take on the Rockets-Suns skirmish fallout (scroll below to Nov. 13 entry) definitely sides with Phoenix's Steve Kerr, who was shocked that Jackson was so hard on Matt Barnes and Steve Nash and will appeal their fines.
Jackson explained his suspensions of Alston and Nash to the Houston Chronicle: "Steve Nash escalated the incident by coming in not as a peacemaker, but as an escalator. Tracy McGrady pushed him."
That's contradictory. If Nash got a one-game suspension, McGrady should've also. Barnes getting a second game seems a little harsh, but can be stomached since the incident turned uglier by spilling into the crowd and Barnes played a major part in starting it.
Since nobody escalated the Bogut/Garnett situation, a one-game suspension for each seems like a just resolution.

Saturday's +/- report: Anthony Morrow (+24, 37 points) was on another planet in his first start, but it's worth noting that being removed from the starting five didn't impede C.J. Watson (+22, 10 points, eight assists) from being a factor. That shows a good attitude and unflappable confidence from a young player... Baron Davis' (-21, 7-for-19) first effort against his former team didn't go smoothly, despite his 25 points and 11 assists... Nice night from Cal's Ryan Anderson (+11, 17 points, 3-for-3 on 3-pointers) in the Nets' 119-107 upset of Atlanta. His old running mates looked good, too, winning 68-56 over Pacific in Mike Montgomery's debut as head coach... It was an extremely rough night in Philadelphia for Oklahoma City's Earl Watson (-33, four points, six turnovers) and Nick Collison (-32, 0-for-7) ... Thaddeus Young (+35, 23 points) did a nice job of not forcing much in the Sixers' 110-85 rout. If he can concentrate on keeping it simple, he's going to improve Philadelphia's chances of hanging with Boston sooner than later... Bogut (+2, 20 points, nine rebounds) outplayed Garnett (+4, 6-for-15), but Paul Pierce (+6, 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Ray Allen (+8, 27 points) picked up their amigo... Carlos Boozer (-20, 5-for-12, 17 points) found out that they're still mad at him in Cleveland... J.J. Hickson, who many are hoping develops into the Boozer-type the Cavs crave at power forward, registered a -18 in 3:38, getting his run in when the Jazz enjoyed their finest stretch... In Houston's 91-82 win over New Orleans, Luis Scola (+9, 12 points, 10 rebounds) helped offset David West (-4, 18 points, 10 rebounds), who got less help than expected from Chris Paul (-3, 2-for-10) and Peja Stojakovic (-6, 1-for-5, 3 points).