"Lakers center Andrew Bynum finally watched his midair takedown of Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea in Game 4 on Sunday and determined "it was terrible." The NBA also examined the play and came to the same conclusion Tuesday.

The league suspended Bynum without pay for the first five games of 2011-12 "for making unnecessary and excessive contact" with Barea.

Bynum also was fined $25,000 for removing his jersey as he walked from the court after his fourth-quarter ejection.

With the Lakers well on their way to a crushing 36-point defeat and a four-game sweep at the hands of the Mavericks, the 7-foot Bynum leveled the 6-foot Barea with a forearm that sent the Dallas guard crashing to the floor.

Bynum received a flagrant-2 foul and was ejected with 8:21 remaining in the game. He followed teammate Lamar Odom off the floor. Odom was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul for body-checking Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki minutes earlier.

Odom will not be suspended, according to league spokesman Tim Frank.

Bynum issued an apology shortly after his exit interview with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and coach Phil Jackson. In fact, he interrupted the first question put to him to begin a mea culpa during his session with reporters.

"Number one, I want to apologize for my actions in the fourth quarter in Dallas," Bynum said. "They don't represent me, my upbringing, this franchise or any of the Lakers fans out there who watch us and want us to succeed.

"Furthermore, and more important, I want to apologize to J.J. Barea for doing that. I'm just glad he wasn't seriously injured in the event. All I can say is that it's terrible and it definitely won't be happening again.""