Lawson suspended 3 games by NBA for July DUI charge

Houston Rockets point guard Ty Lawson has been suspended three games by the NBA for his DUI arrest in Los Angeles on July 14 of last year.

It's Lawson second such suspension this season. He was barred from two games in December for a separate DUI incident in Colorado last January. This suspension was expected in the wake of Lawson's second such charge in a seven-month span. As a result, a judge ordered him into a 30-day alcohol rehab program at the time.

Lawson missed Monday's game against the Utah Jazz with an ankle sprain, and left shootaround early on Thursday. The suspension will commence with Thursday's Utah contest (the Rockets are on the back end of a home-and-home with the Jazz), leaving Lawson next eligible to play on Jan. 13 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lawson was acquired from the Denver Nuggets in the wake of his troubles last summer. The 28-year-old is having the worst season of his seven-year career, unable to play for long stretches alongside the ball-dominant James Harden and relegated to duty off the bench. The point guard is posting career lows in field-goal percentage (37.1), 3-point percentage (31.3), and points per game (6.4).