FILE – Charlotte Hornets ahead Miles Bridges. (AP Picture/John Minchillo, File)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Hornets ahead Miles Bridges was denied entrance to Canada resulting from his previous authorized issues and didn’t play Monday evening in Toronto in opposition to the Raptors, an individual accustomed to the state of affairs advised The Related Press.
The particular person stated Bridges was turned away on the border. They spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t allowed to talk publicly on the matter.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford wouldn’t touch upon the rationale for Bridges’ absence when he spoke to reporters earlier than Monday’s sport. The Hornets misplaced to the Raptors, 114-99.
“The one factor I’m going to say is neither Miles nor (rookie heart Nathan Mensah from Ghana) will likely be right here with us tonight,” Clifford stated. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
Bridges is at the moment serving three years of probation after pleading no contest in trade for no jail time within the June 2022 home violence case involving the mom of his two youngsters, who accused Bridges of assaulting her in entrance of them. He should adhere to a 10-year prison safety order for the lady, weekly narcotics and marijuana testing, and restitution, in accordance with the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s workplace.
Bridges most lately turned himself in on Oct. 13 after an arrest warrant was issued for an alleged safety order violation.
The warrant had initially been issued on Jan. 2, however had not beforehand been served till October, simply earlier than the NBA season. Per courtroom paperwork, Bridges “unlawfully” and “knowingly” violated the safety order.
That case continues to be pending.
Canada Border Providers Company spokesperson Rebecca Purdy stated they don’t present particulars on particular particular person instances, however anyone looking for entry into the nation should “reveal they meet the necessities to enter.”
“Admissibility is set case-by-case and primarily based on the data made accessible on the time of entry,” Purdy stated in an e mail to the AP. “A number of components are utilized in figuring out if a person is admissible to Canada, together with involvement in prison exercise, human rights violations, organized crime, safety, well being or monetary causes.”
Bridges was suspended by the NBA for the primary 10 video games of the season after sitting out all of final season. He’s averaging 19.6 factors and seven.2 rebounds per sport since his return from suspension in 12 begins.
After they hosted Philadelphia on Saturday, the Hornets had been with out three starters in LaMelo Ball (proper ankle), Gordon Hayward (sickness) and Mark Williams (again), plus two key reserves in P.J. Washington (left shoulder) and Cody Martin (left knee). The Hornets misplaced guard Terry Rozier within the third quarter when he caught an elbow to the nostril.
With out these gamers, the Hornets misplaced 135-82, their worst loss in franchise historical past. Charlotte’s solely win in its previous seven video games was a house victory over Toronto on Dec. 8.