"Trail Blazers guard Andre Miller has been suspended by the NBA for one game for "excessive and unnecessary contact" Sunday with Blake Griffin of the Clippers.

Coach Nate McMillan on Monday evening said Patty Mills will likely start at point guard for Tuesday's home game against Steve Nash and Phoenix.

Miller bull-rushed Griffin and knocked him to the ground with about 7:09 left in the fourth quarter of the Blazers' 100-91 victory at the Rose Garden.

Miller was upset after Griffin twice pushed him in the back on separate fourth quarter possessions. The first push by Griffin occurred with about 7:45 while Baron Davis was making a three-pointer to draw the Clippers within 82-73.

On the ensuing Blazers possession, Miller established rebounding position in the key during a Rudy Fernandez three-pointer when Griffin again pushed him in the back.

Incensed, Miller waited until Griffin went back on offense and established himself in the middle of the key. From about halfcourt, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Miller went full speed and lowered his shoulder into Griffin, who is 6-foot-10, 252 pounds. Griffin was knocked on his behind and slid into the basket standard.

"I actually wanted to get him harder,'' Miller said afterward. "But he knew it was coming, because he got me good - actually a couple of times.''

Amazingly, the play went unnoticed by the officiating crew, which even caught Miller by surprise."