Percy Allen of the Seattle Times reports that Rashard Lewis wis suspended for one game after his run-in with Travis Best in Saturday?s win by the Sonics over the Heat. "The league informed me this afternoon that Rashard was suspended for the punch," said Sonics General Manager Rick Sund. "I was stunned."

Sonics coach Nate McMillan was also stunned. He was upset that the game officials warned him that an altercation might take place during the final minutes of the game at KeyArena. "The official warned me," McMillan said yesterday. "He said tell your guys to keep their heads, but protect themselves.

"Evidently, he heard something in (the Miami) huddle that alarmed him that we should be careful on the floor because (Heat Coach) Pat (Riley) had told his team something. I couldn't get my team together in time. Two possessions later they get the flagrant foul on Rashard."

On the play, Lewis attempted to score on a breakaway but was prevented by Best who grabbed him and drew a flagrant foul. As Best walked away, Lewis confronted him and they went chest to chest. Replays showed Lewis fist near Bests? face, but Lewis denies throwing a punch.

Best was not punished by the league for his part in the altercation.

The incident capped a game that was littered with altercations. One instance involved Desmond Mason and Vladimir Stepania. Replays appeared to show a punch thrown by Mason that didn?t connect. Stepania was later ejected for tangling with Reggie Evans.

"What we have to do is move on," McMillan said. "Everyone else has to step up and be ready to play. Mase will be in the lineup at Rashard's spot. We're going to need guys from the bench to step up and play."