NBA suspends Kingston Flemings for one game after facial contact

Atlanta Hawks fans will not see rookie guard Kingston Flemings on the floor Monday night when the team visits the Indiana Pacers. The NBA confirmed on Sunday that the 23-year-old will sit out one game without pay following an incident in Saturday's contest against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Flemings, the No. 8 overall pick in the June draft, took a flagrant foul 2 and an automatic ejection with 3:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. The play resulted in a 121-115 victory for the Pelicans. The contact involved an elbow to the face of Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens.

The suspension means the reserve guard will miss his eighth appearance of the season. In the seven games played before the incident, Flemings averaged 7.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game in 20.3 minutes. He shot 47.6% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc during that stretch.

Flemings had a productive night before his exit. He recorded 12 points, six assists, four steals, and two rebounds in the loss to New Orleans. The Hawks will rely on their remaining backcourt options while he serves the ban.

The one-game suspension is a standard penalty for flagrant fouls involving significant contact. Flemings will return to the active roster for the Hawks' next scheduled contest after the Indiana game.