Caron Butler's punch of New Orleans guard Dan Dickau in the stomach will force him to miss Saturday's game against the Heat, his former team.

Butler denied trying to punch Dickau and said he didn't believe he'd receive a suspension. But he will miss Saturday's game against former Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat.

"It was just a natural reaction to pull him off my leg," Butler said. "That was it. I've known Dan for a while, he's a cool dude."

Dickau said he didn't know why Butler got ejected.

"It was no big deal," Dickau said. "I kind of got into a crease and didn't make the right decision and we kind of got tangled up. I think my arm must have gotten wrapped around his leg a little bit and he must have thought that I was trying to do something a little more than what I did, obviously. It's too bad he got ejected. I mean, it wasn't anything intentional."