Bucks, Pacers penalized for fight; Sanders banned

NBA officials said they have suspended Milwaukee Bucks forward Larry Sanders two games without pay for instigating a scuffle in Thursday night’s 118-109 loss at Indiana.

The league ruled Friday that Sanders initiated a fourth-quarter altercation, then failed to leave the floor in a timely manner after being ejected. Pacers forwards Danny Granger and David West are being fined $25,000 for their roles in the scuffle.

Sanders had drawn a technical foul earlier in the game and will miss Saturday’s game against New Jersey and Monday’s game against Toronto.

 Earlier in the quarter, Indiana’s Leandro Barbosa was called for a flagrant 1 foul on Mike Dunleavy that nearly led to a fight.

The win gave Indiana home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.