Matt Barnes sticks to hoops, steers away from Derek Fisher incident
Derrick Williams #23 of the New York Knicks controls the ball against Matt Barnes #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 in New York City. Credit: Jim McIsaac
This time Matt Barnes let his play on the court do the talking.
Barnes, the Memphis Grizzlies forward who was suspended for two games by the NBA after an altercation with Knicks coach Derek Fisher and later fined $35,000 for comments that seemed to support violence, had 12 points and seven rebounds Friday night as the Grizzlies beat the Knicks, 91-85, at the Garden.
Barnes, who was questionable for the game because of a hamstring injury, was Memphis’ second-leading scorer Friday night as the Grizzlies swept the two-game season series.
Barnes said he heard it from the crowd about the October incident in which he fought with Fisher at the home of Barnes’ estranged wife, who reportedly was in a relationship with Fisher.
“Of course,” he said. “Of course. All the time. But like we said, it’s part of the game. It’s what they’re here to do, and they do a good job of it.”
Barnes was fined $35,000 last month for saying “violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is” before the Grizzlies hosted the Knicks.
On Friday, Barnes declined to answer a question about Fisher, his former Lakers teammate.
“We can talk about basketball,” he said.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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