Anthony gets long ban for brawl

Nuggets and Knicks players clash at Madison Square Garden

NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony has been banned for 15 games for his role in Saturday's mass brawl between Denver and New York Knicks players.

Anthony, averaging a 31.6 points per game for the Nuggets, was suspended after shoving New York's Nate Robinson and punching Mardy Collins in the face.

Robinson and Denver guard JR Smith each miss 10 games. Collins is banned for six and team-mate Jared Jeffries four.

Jerome James (Knicks) and Hilario Nene (Denver) will each sit out one game.

The Knicks and Nuggets were also each fined $500,000 by the league.

Clearly, we're not getting through or players in certain circumstances just don't want to be restrained - I would suggest that those players will not have long careers in the NBA NBA commissioner David Stern

NBA commissioner David Stern said: "My concern is for the safety of the players and the fans.

"When things get out of hand, you cannot predict or project where they're going to go.

"The NBA and its players set an example for the entire basketball world, on and off the court.

"While we have worked diligently to eliminate fighting from our game, there are failures such as Saturday's that demonstrate there is more to be done.

"It is our obligation to take the strongest possible steps to avoid such failures in the future."

Stern also made it clear that he was annoyed by the conduct of Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, but he avoided any individual punishment.

Thomas had warned Anthony not to dribble into the foul lane before the melee began.