NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

Dec 28 (The Sports Xchange) - The NBA suspended Memphis Grizzlies guard Matt Barnes two games for a physical altercation with New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher earlier this year. Barnes also threatened Fisher during the altercation on Oct. 3 in Redondo Beach, California, the NBA announced Monday. The league conducted its own investigation. Barnes' suspension without pay will begin when the Grizzlies face the Miami Heat on Tuesday at FedExForum. He also will miss Saturday's game at the Utah Jazz. Fisher had flown to Los Angeles on an off day of Knicks training camp and was visiting with Barnes' estranged wife, Gloria Govan, at her home. Barnes, 35, said at the time that he went to Govan's home to check on his 6-year-old twin sons. Barnes confronted Fisher and a physical altercation ensued. Police were called, but no charges were filed. - - - The Phoenix Suns announced changes to head coach Jeff Hornacek's staff, promoting assistants Nate Bjorkgren and Earl Watson to the front of the bench. The Suns also fired assistant coaches Jerry Sichting and Mike Longabardi on Monday. The Suns (12-20) have lost 15 of 20 games, including a 111-104 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Sources told ESPN that the Suns, despite the organization's well-known fondness for Hornacek, have been forced to contemplate a coaching change. There is also a growing fear within the organization that the team is no longer responding to its head coach, according to ESPN. - - - The Memphis Grizzlies reassigned forward Jarell Martin to the team's NBA Development League affiliate, the Iowa Energy. - - - The Atlanta Hawks assigned guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League. Hardaway, 23, averaged 2.5 points and 11 minutes in four games with the Hawks this season. - - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)