"Rudy Gay's impulse a week before Christmas was quite expensive.

The Grizzlies' leading scorer retaliated against Houston's Luis Scola Friday night by knocking him to the ground with a running forearm to the back. As a result, the NBA hit Gay with a one-game suspension.

He sat out the Grizzlies' contest with the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night in the AT&T Center.

Gay originally was charged with a flagrant foul, penalty two and drew an ejection from the Grizzlies' 103-87 loss to Houston. The league followed with the suspension, which Gay served without pay.

"It happened. It's over," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "You do things, and you regret them, and you move forward. You have to pay the piper in the meantime, and that's what he's doing. That's also what we're doing."

Hollins had to put together a different starting lineup that included reserve guards O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen.

Mayo started because he's the team's second-best perimeter player next to Gay. That meant rookie Xavier Henry, who had been starting at shooting guard, moved to the bench.

Moving Allen into the starting lineup allowed Hollins to use Sam Young as the backup small forward for scoring punch.

"More than the money, not being able to help my team is what bothers me the most," Gay said when reached by telephone. "I shouldn't have let an opposing player get to me like that."

Gay didn't throw a punch, which draws an automatic suspension. But the Griz figured Gay would receive additional punishment following his premeditated action that caught Scola from behind.

With about six minutes left in the lopsided affair, Gay said he took an elbow to the face from Scola. Gay fell to the floor and got up slowly as play continued on the other end of the court."