NBA reduces bans for two players
The shortened NBA season means that suspensions to Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva also will be reduced, the league announced on Friday.
Bynum received a flagrant foul for making excessive contact with Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea in the final game of last season's Western Conference finals. He was given a five-game suspension, which was reduced to four on Friday.
Villanueva received a five-game ban -- now also reduced to four -- for tussling with Ryan Hollins of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the end of last season. He had to be restrained from following Hollins into the locker room.
Villanueva served one game of the suspension last season and will sit the first three games of this season.