The Los Angeles Lakers have a tall order ahead of them, down 0-2 to the Dallas Mavericks in their Western Conference semifinals, and they're task got tougher today. Forward Ron Artest has been suspended for Game 3 by the NBA for swinging his arm and striking the face of J.J. Barea in the final minute of Game 2. The play happened with 24.4 seconds left in the Lakers' 93-81 loss.
Artest received a technical foul on the play, which was his second technical foul of the game and triggered his ejection. Artest has averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in the first two games of the series. It is expected that Matt Barnes would start in place of Artest in Game 3. Artest was one of six Lakers to play all 82 games this season.
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