Shove gets Sanders suspended for one game

Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders has been suspended one game without pay for shoving Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum in the back while he elevated for a dunk during Portland's 104-97 victory Wednesday.

Sanders shoved Batum hard enough to cause him to have too much momentum going up for a dunk with 3:01 remaining. Batum completed the dunk but then fell hard to the court. He not only managed to escape serious injury, but he also stayed in the game to shoot the free throws.

Officials called a flagrant-1 foul on Sanders, but the NBA elevated it to a flagrant-2. Sanders will serve the suspension Thursday when the Bucks face the Kings in Sacramento.

Sanders' absence will leave the Bucks even more short-handed in the frontcourt, as Ersan Ilyasova (nasal fracture), John Henson (left foot sprain) and Jabari Parker (torn left ACL) are out. Giannis Antetokounmpo started at power forward Wednesday, but he is questionable for the game against the Kings after suffering a sprained left ankle in Portland.

If Antetokounmpo sits, the Bucks will have nine available players Thursday. Zaza Pachulia will likely start at center in place of Sanders, leaving rookie Johnny O'Bryant as the only true big man off the bench. O'Bryant, who missed the first nine weeks of the season with a sprained right MCL, played five minutes in his NBA debut Wednesday.

Sanders has played in 25 of Milwaukee's 26 games this season, averaging 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over 21.3 minutes per game.

Follow Andrew Gruman on Twitter