The Los Angeles Lakers will be shorthanded tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, as it has been reported that forward Metta World Peace has been suspended one game.

According to a statement released by NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, World Peace has been suspended one game without pay for grabbing Brandon Knight of the Detroit Pistons around the neck and striking him in the jaw.

The incident occurred during the second quarter of the Lakers 98-97 win over Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 3. Shortly following the incident, game officials reviewed the play on the monitors and declared it a flagrant 1 foul.

That didn’t sit too well with Knight, however, as he complained after the game and asked for the league to review the play.

“The play needs to be reviewed because he definitely threw a punch,” exclaimed the second-year guard from Kentucky “It felt like he threw a punch. That’s why I reacted the way I did. The play was over and he grabbed me around the neck.

“If someone grabs you around the neck, you’re not going to let that happen. You do what you need to get that person off you.”

The suspension comes at a critical time for the Lakers, who are also without center Dwight Howard.

Metta World Peace has been averaging 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds so far this season.