Bucks coach Skiles hit with 1-game ban

NEW YORK -- The NBA suspended Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles one game without pay Friday for his actions toward an official, becoming the first coach to receive such a penalty in nearly seven years.

Skiles

The NBA also said Skiles refused to leave the court in a timely manner. He will serve the suspension on Friday night, when Milwaukee plays at Detroit.

Skiles was given two quick technical fouls and ejected late in the first quarter of Wednesday's 104-102 loss to the Washington Wizards in Milwaukee. He was hit with the first for screaming at official Sean Wright over the lack of a foul call, then came farther onto the court directly at Wright to continue his protest and was thrown out with 29.7 seconds left in the period.

After the ejection, Skiles walked all the way to halfcourt to continue his argument before leaving.

The last NBA coach to be suspended for an interaction with a referee was Utah's Jerry Sloan, who was banned seven games in January 2003 for making contact with an official.

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, who handed down the penalty, would not comment.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press