THE STORY
In Game 4 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, Robert Horry committed a flagrant foul on Steve Nash, sparking a bench-clearing altercation. Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the bench and were each suspended for one game, while Horry received a two-game suspension. The Suns lost Game 5 without Stoudemire and Diaw, allowing the Spurs to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
WHY IT MATTERS
The suspensions of key players Stoudemire and Diaw significantly impacted the Suns' playoff performance, contributing to their elimination from the 2007 postseason. The incident remains a notable example of the NBA's leave-the-bench rule enforcement and its potential consequences in high-stakes games.