The NBA has suspended Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham for one game without pay, the league announced today in a press release. The ban will keep Cunningham from suiting up for New Orleans’ game tonight against the Suns, as the Pelicans look for their first victory of the season.
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As the NBA outlines in its announcement, Cunningham’s suspension comes as a result of the 29-year-old pleading guilty to “operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner while exhibiting the effects of having consumed alcohol.” The one-game ban will cost Cunningham $27,075, per Bobby Marks of The Vertical (Twitter link).
Cunningham has averaged 21.4 minutes per contest in five games for the Pelicans so far this year, so those minutes figure to be divvied up among at least a couple other players tonight. Solomon Hill and Terrence Jones are among the players who could see increased playing time with Cunningham out.
Check out the Pelicans’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.