Heat's Udonis Haslem, Dexter Pittman suspended for flagrant fouls against Pacers
The Miami Heat will be without forward Udonis Haslem and center Dexter Pittman for Thursday's Game 6 against the Indiana Pacers after the NBA suspended both players for separate flagrant fouls.
Haslem received a one-game suspension while Pittman will miss the next three games, the NBA announced.
Pittman received a flagrant foul after he came across the lane and used his forearm and elbow to blast the Pacers' Lance Stephenson after a made shot with 19.4 seconds left in Tuesday night's Game 5. Stephenson had taunted LeBron James earlier in the series by flashing a choke signal after James missed a pair of free throws during Game 3.
[Related: Dexter Pittman abides by Pat Riley's code by cracking Lance Stephenson]
Haslem was given his flagrant after he fouled Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough across the face in Game 5. Hansbrough had hit Dwyane Wade earlier in the game for a flagrant foul. The NBA upgraded all three fouls to flagrant type-twos, but Hansbrough was not suspended.
The suspensions leave the Heat thin on their front line. Chris Bosh is sidelined with an abdominal injury.
The Heat lead the series 3-2 and can clinch a berth in the Eastern Conference finals with a victory Thursday in Indianapolis.
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Heat win, retaliate after Pacers' hit on Dwyane Wade
• Mike Miller hustles in only one shoe during Heat's blowout of Pacers
• Jeremy Lin chosen to help Team USA as it prepares for the Olympics
