Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune reports:  Jazz guard DeShawn Stevenson was sent home before Monday night's game against the Sacramento Kings after a spat with coach Jerry Sloan.

"Because of a confrontation DeShawn and I had, we decided to send him home," said Sloan.

Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor said:  "The big thing about the Jazz organization is the head coach is in charge, and he will continue to be in charge. His discipline is our discipline."

Stevenson?s teammates said the incident would not be a problem for the team.

"You can't use that kind of stuff as an excuse," Karl Malone said. "You've got to be professional and get yourself ready to play. . . . We aren't looking at it like [a distraction]. We've just got to go play."

Added John Stockton: "We can't worry about anything except what's happening on the floor."