Grizzlies Calathes Suspended

By Randy Renner

The Memphis Grizzlies got some bad news last night on the eve of the opening of their playoff series with the Oklahoma Coty Thunder, their back up point guard has been suspended.

The NBA confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report that Nick Calathes is suspended for 20 games beginning with tonight's game against the Thunder. He tested positive for a banned substance.

The drug that came up on the test was tamoxifen according to a league source. Tamoxifen typically is used to treat breast cancer.

Calathes was averaging 4.9 points a game for the Grizzlies and had appeared in 71 of their 82 games. He will be replaced at backup point guard by Beno Udrih who was acquired late in the regular season from Toronto.

Calathes played in all four regular season games against the Thunder the most he scored in any game was eight points on 4-for-11 shooting when he started the February 3rd game when starting point guard Mike Conley was out with an injury.