Celtics coach Jim O'Brien saw a decline in Vin Baker's play and suspected that the forward might may have faltered in his treatment for alcoholism.
"This was not necessarily a complete shock to me," O'Brien said Wednesday, one day after Baker was suspended for three games for failing to comply with the conditions of his aftercare program.
"I saw a deterioration in his play -- what I would consider a significant deterioration in his play from the beginning of the year. I was not sure of what the problem was. I knew that he was not the player he was a month ago."
"I hope it's just a phase of the program that leads to the better outcome," said Wyc Grousbeck, a managing partner with the Celtics. "It was doing great for a long time. I can tell you everybody in the Celtics organization is feeling badly for Vin, and supportive."
O'Brien, Grousbeck and team captain Paul Pierce said they haven't spoken to Baker since the suspension.
"Calls are out and I expect that we will be talking to Vin very soon," Grousbeck said.
Baker is scheduled to miss home games Wednesday against Orlando and Friday against Cleveland and a road game Sunday against Houston.
"It's an unfortunate circumstance. We really give our support to Vinny," Pierce said. "We're here to lend a helping hand. Right now he's going through a difficult time."
"It's an ongoing struggle and there are ups and downs along the way," Grousbeck said. "He's come so far that I hope he can keep going forward."
bad boys, bad boys ...
Kenyon Martin and Corey Maggette were suspended for two games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday, a day after they were ejected from a Clippers-Nets game for fighting.
The players threw punches in the third quarter of the Nets' 92-75 win Tuesday, after New Jersey's Martin committed a hard foul on Maggette on a drive.
Maggette appeared to shove Martin to the court, and Martin got up and went after Maggette. Each player threw two punches.
Maggette will serve his suspension during the Clippers' games at Philadelphia on Wednesday and at Toronto on Friday.
Martin will miss games at Philadelphia on Friday and against Washington on Jan. 14.
76ers 100, Clippers 80
Allen Iverson scored 20 points and the Philadelphia 76ers reached 100 points for the first time in nearly two months, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 100-80.
Iverson and Glenn Robinson combined for 16 points during a 21-5 run to start the third quarter that gave the Sixers a 17-point lead.
With Iverson on the bench in the fourth quarter, the Clippers were able to cut the deficit to 11, but a series of turnovers led to a 17-4 run by Philadelphia that put the game out of reach.
Getting hit on drives to the basket is nothing new for Iverson, but Eddie House's physical play Wednesday resulted in a rare outburst by the Sixers' guard.
"I don't care when guys hit me in my arm or my leg or my chest or anything like that real hard," Iverson said. "But when you hit me in my face or my head, it's a different story."
Robinson had 19 points for the Sixers, Kenny Thomas had 16, Eric Snow 15 and Samuel Dalembert 12.
"Going into the third quarter, we thought we had the momentum," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "But we gave it right back to them with turnovers."
Elton Brand led the Clippers with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Celtics 101, Magic 93
In Boston, Paul Pierce had 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Mike James added 21 points as Boston extended Orlando's losing streak to six games.
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