Nuggets suspend G Smith for three games

Oct 20, 2007 - 9:00 PM DENVER (Ticker) - The Denver Nuggets on Saturday suspended guard J.R. Smith for the first three games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team.

The former first-round selection - 18th overall - of the 2004 draft will miss Denver's games against Seattle on October 31, at Minnesota on November 2 and against New Orleans on November 4.

"I take full responsibility for my actions that led to this suspension," Smith said. "I realize that the organization wants to help me become not only a better player but also the best person I can off the court. I apologize to my teammates, the coaching staff, my family and Nuggets fans. I promise to learn from this situation and look forward to returning shortly and being the best teammate I possibly can."

Smith had a team-high 33 points in the Nuggets' 119-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons in a preseason game on Wednesday.

He is averaging 10.4 points and 1.5 assists for his career.