Tony Allen Suspended By Grizzlies: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Memphis Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen has been suspended for Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz because of a violation of team rules.

ESPN's Chris Vernon reported the news of Allen's punishment mere hours before tipoff:

Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal provided a more detailed explanation, citing Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger:

Tillery also reported on the exact reason for Allen's suspension:

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After more digging into the issue, Allen’s physical confrontation was apparently with Calathes during practice. Frustration clearly is building with the team playing poorly and the starting unit lacking consistent and forceful play.

Allen was on the team’s flight to Houston last night and is expected to play against the Rockets. How Joerger and the players, not just Allen, rebound from this brush with turmoil bears monitoring.

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Marc Stein of ESPN reported on the level of the confrontation, saying it did not rise to a physical level. Stein's report stated that the suspension was for Allen brushing off coaches as they tried to calm him down.

Allen is a defensive specialist who could have done a number on Utah star Gordon Hayward or any of the Jazz's other dynamic perimeter players such as Trey Burke.

The Salt Lake Tribune's Aaron Falk weighed in on what Allen's suspension means for the immediate future, referencing the absences of Zach Randolph and Beno Udrih:

With a 23-6 mark at FedExForum on the season, Memphis shouldn't be too worried about Allen's temporary absence as it prepares to face a Jazz squad that has a 10-19 road record.

This disciplinary action is more like a slap on the wrist for whatever Grizzlies policy Allen violated. Nevertheless, every game down the stretch means something. Memphis can't afford to slip up at all in the stacked Western Conference.

Just 1.5 games separate the Grizzlies from Houston for the West's No. 2 seed. Allen picked an inopportune time to be out of line, especially with Memphis coming off an underwhelming 3-2 record this last week.