Nuggets Guard Suspended for Game 1 of Playoffs

Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo has been suspended for Game 1 of Denver's first-round matchup against Golden State, president of league operations Byron Spruell announced today. Campazzo was assessed a flagrant foul-2 and subsequently ejected for shoving Laker's guard Wayne Ellington during the Nugget's final game of the regular season on Sunday night.

The incident at hand occurred in the 2nd quarter of the meaningless game between the Lakers, who had already been eliminated from playoff contention, and Denver, who had already clinched the 6th seed. Ellington, who was in the midst of one of his better games this season, was under the Lakers' basket contesting a rebound when Campazzo forcefully shoved him in the back, sending Ellington to the floor where he remained for a few moments. Campazzo was immediately ejected from the game. The full clip can be seen below.

Facundo Campazzo was ejected for this flagrant 2 foul on Wayne Ellington.pic.twitter.com/Q4I5PhZHNR https://t.co/oKPc6pX6IJ
— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) April 11, 2022

Following the game, Ellington escalated the situation by taking to Twitter and tweeting the following:

When I see you I’m putting my hands on you. @facucampazzo
— Wayne Ellington (@WayneEllington) April 11, 2022

Ellington has been issued a $20,000 fine for the tweet, which was deemed by the NBA to be a "threatening comment".

Campazzo's absence in Game 1 means the Nuggets will have to rely heavily on rookie Bones Hyland to handle the load as backup point guard. Though he has proved to be more than capable of doing so this season, only time will tell if the nerves of a first-career postseason game will get to him. Luckily for the Nuggets, the Warriors are still unsure if their superstar point guard in Stephen Curry will be back from injury for the game, and if he does return, he may not be firing on all cylinders yet.

Though his omission may not play a huge factor on the score sheet, Denver will certainly miss the sparkplug that Campazzo is. Without the energy and scrappiness he brings off the bench, the Nuggets will have to find other ways to get a lift from their second unit to earn a crucial Game 1 win against a tough Warriors opponent.