Lamar Odom is suspended for Wednesday's game at Houston. (Gus Ruelas/Associated Press)Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom has been suspended for one game for leaving the bench.
He will sit out Wednesday's tilt at Houston.
NBA disciplinarian Stu Jackson ruled Tuesday that Odom left the "immediate vicinity" of the bench with 2.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Monday's 111-94 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Odom raced onto the court to protect teammate Trevor Ariza, who sparked a skirmish with a flagrant foul on Trail Blazers rookie guard Rudy Fernandez.
Josh Powell of the Lakers also got involved in the altercation, as did Marcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw from the Trail Blazers.
Fernandez was taken off the court several minutes later, strapped to a stretcher and with his neck in a brace.
The 23-year-old Spaniard was admitted to a Portland hospital, and the team confirmed he suffered a "soft tissue injury to his right upper chest/side area."
Odom, 29, is averaging 10.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocked shots, 1.0 steals and 28.7 minutes in 60 games (18 starts) this season, his fifth with the Lakers.
The Rhode Island product has averaged 15.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, 1.0 steals and 36.6 minutes in 647 appearances (591 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Lakers.
Odom was drafted fourth overall by the Clippers in 1999.
With files from the Associated Press
