Sports

AP source: Cavs suspend Smith for throwing soup at coach

02 of March 2018

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' J.R. Smith (5) drives past Houston Rockets' Luc Mbah a Moute (12), from Cameroon, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. Smith has been suspended one game by the team for detrimental conduct. The team gave no further specifics about the punishment. Smith will serve the penalty on Thursday, March 1, 2018, night as the Cavs host the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File),FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' J.R. Smith (5) drives past Houston Rockets' Luc Mbah a Moute (12), from Cameroon, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland. Smith has been suspended one game by the team for detrimental conduct. The team gave no further specifics about the punishment. Smith will serve the penalty on Thursday, March 1, 2018, night as the Cavs host the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

A person familiar with the situation says the Cleveland Cavaliers suspended guard J.R. Smith for one game after he threw a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones. Smith sat out the Cavs' loss to the Philadelphia 76ers a few hours later on Thursday. Smith is expected to practice and return to the starting lineup when the Cavs host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith was suspended one game for throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones.

Several hours later Thursday, the Cavs announced the suspension and Smith sat out the team’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Smith is expected to practice Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the team is not divulging specifics of Smith’s punishment. ESPN.com first reported the reason for Smith’s suspension.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue refused to reveal any details Thursday.

Rodney Hood started in place of Smith, who has struggled in his fourth season with the Cavs.

Jones previously played for the Cavs and during Thursday’s shootaround he engaged in some trash talk with George Hill during a shooting contest.