The NBA has suspended Metta World Peace for his altercation with Brandon Knight during Sunday's victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Metta World Peace has been suspended 1 game w/out pay for "grabbing Brandon Knight around the neck and striking him in the jaw," per @nba.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 5, 2013

It was originally called a flagrant foul and there were no ejections. Here's a video of the tussle between the two.

Now, the Lakers will be without Dwight Howard (who just ruled himself out of tonight's game) and Metta World Peace. Yes, two of their five starters are out, and worse it's two of their "bigs", as Mike D'Antoni commonly assigns MWP on opposing power forwards and even centers in a pinch. This puts the Lakers in a bind, as their depth at the forward position is tight, and they are already without Jordan Hill for the season.

More of the same for a Lakers season that has been trying.