Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony Ejected, Takes NBA Technicals Lead

DENVER -- Carmelo Anthony wasn't feeling as ill. But he was sick of referees.

The Denver forward didn't make it out of the first quarter last Sunday against Phoenix when he was done for night after three minutes due to flu-like symptoms. He didn't make it out of third quarter Wednesday against Milwaukee when he was ejected with 2:40 remaining.

Anthony became upset when Bucks forward Larry Sanders blocked his shot, and Anthony believed it should have been goaltending. He was given a technical by official Eric Dalen. Anthony continued to bark, and was whistled for another technical by official Jason Phillips for an automatic ejection.

"I didn't talk to Melo about what happened,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said after his team's 105-94 win. "But I asked Jason and he said, 'I'll get you next time.' And I never got an explanation.''

Anthony, who has taken over the NBA lead with seven technicals, declined comment about the ejection to FanHouse after the game. Asked about his health, he did say, "I'm all right.''

Update: NBA Rescinds Anthony's Second Technical

It didn't look quite that way on the stat sheet. Anthony shot just 4-of-13 for 14 points.

"I didn't think he was 100 percent,'' Karl said. "I think he was sluggish. I think he was a little bit trying to find ways to get enough energy to put himself in the game. ... But I think he'll be better Friday night (at home against the Clippers).''

Anthony said before the game he was feeling better but during recent nights has "been tossing and turning,'' and has still been "just drained the last few days.'' Anthony has been ailing since the Nuggets played Nov. 22 at Golden State. He felt very bad last Friday against Chicago, but still hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer.

That was the last time Anthony made it to the end of a game. Of course, if he doesn't watch the technicals, he might not make it to the start of a game one of these days.

Anthony moved ahead of Orlando's Dwight Howard and Charlotte's Stephen Jackson, who each have six, to take the NBA lead with seven technicals. Players who reach 16 during a season get an automatic one-game suspension, and Anthony is on pace for nearly 34 this season (his exact pace is 33.8).

Players also get a one-game suspension for every other technical past 16. So, as crazy as it sounds, Anthony is on pace to be suspended for nine to 10 games this season, although, obviously his pace would be slowed if he does start actually getting suspended from games.

"I do think Melo has pushed the line in some other games where he had one technical,'' Karl said when asked about the NBA's crackdown this season on demonstrative behavior. "And I think we'll adjust. I'm not sure. I better shut up. I might get fined.''

As for Anthony, he's now moved up another notch on the NBA's fine scale. Players are docked $1,000 for each of their first five technicals and $1,500 for each of their next five after that. So Anthony has been fined $8,000 so far this season.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson