Trey Lyles suspended one game for role in Kings-Bucks scuffle

Mar 15, 2023, 9:12 AM | Updated: 9:13 am

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 23: Trey Lyles #41 of the Sacramento Kings grabs a rebound in the fir...

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles has been suspended one game without pay for his role in Monday night’s altercation with Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA announced on Wednesday morning.

Lyles will serve his suspension on Wednesday night when the Kings face the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

Lopez has been fined $25,000 for his role in the scuffle, which resulted in both teams engaging in a chaotic scene near the Golden 1 Center scorer’s table.

Trey Lyles has been suspended for one game. No suspension for Brook Lopez.

Lyles will not play tonight in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/vF0Qyw7Ny1

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) March 15, 2023

With the game all but out of reach for Sacramento, Antetokounmpo dribbled the ball into the front court with less than 20 seconds to go and appeared to walk right in front of Kings forward Trey Lyles, who took exception and shoved the two-time MVP out of frustration.

Bucks center Brook Lopez immediately came to Antetokounmpo’s aid, and Lyles responded by shoving the big man’s face, then putting his hands around Lopez’s neck while both teams swarmed around the chaotic scene.

Both Lyles and Lopez were ejected, the game clock hit zero, and a wild night at Golden 1 Center came to an entertaining end–one that had Sacramento fired up following the game.

“It was nothing personal. But, a bigger guy walks down on me, I’m not really one for talking. It takes a lot for me to get out of character,” Lyles said of the scene.

“Just not going to go for that. Could have been avoided if [Antetokounmpo] just dribbled it out. A lot of people probably will say that it’s cheap, it’s at the end of the game, but if it’s at the end of the game, then why initiate it? If you’re going to do that, then you have to be ready for the repercussions.”

Sacramento will have to face Chicago without the services of Lyles, who has been a force off the bench for a Kings team that has climbed into the third spot in the Western Conference standings.

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Bulls coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 3:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 5:00 PM PST tip-off from Chicago.