The NBA came down hard Wednesday on Jerry Sloan, suspending the Jazz coach seven games for an incident involving referee Courtney Kirkland during Utah's Tuesday-night win at Sacramento. But the Jazz Thursday softened the blow for Sloan, saying their longtime coach would not be fined or have his pay withheld during the suspension period.

Sloan was punished for "confronting and making contact with a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection," said Stu Jackson, the NBA's senior vice president for basketball operations.
     
On Thursday, Sloan was contrite but also suggested his actions were provoked by Kirkland...