DENVER — Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith was suspended for the first threegames of the regular season “for conduct detrimental to the team.”

Nuggets player personnel director Mark Warkentien declined on Saturday tospecify Smith’s transgression.

“I take full responsibility for my actions that led to this suspension,”Smith said in an apology distributed by the team. “I realize that theorganization wants to help me become not only a better player, but also the bestperson I can off the court.

“I apologize to my teammates, the coaching staff, my family and Nuggetsfans. I promise to learn from this situation and look forward to returningshortly and being the best teammate I possibly can.”

Smith served a 10-game suspension last year for his role in a fight with theNew York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and was injured in a car crash lastsummer in New Jersey that killed his friend, Andre Bell, 21.

Smith, who drew coach George Karl’s ire last year for firing up longjumpshots in the playoffs, will miss Denver’s opener Oct. 31 against Seattle, aswell as games at Minnesota on Nov. 2 and home against New Orleans on Nov. 4.

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