NEW YORK (AP) Karl Malone will not play Sunday against his former team, the Utah Jazz, after being suspended for one game by the NBA for elbowing Dallas guard Steve Nash in the head.

The penalty was announced Friday by NBA vice president Stu Jackson after he reviewed videotape of Malone's thrown elbow, which came early in the third quarter of the Lakers' 114-103 victory on Thursday night.

Malone will sit out the game against the Jazz in Los Angeles on Sunday, only the 11th game he will have missed in his 19-year career _ seven because of suspensions; four due to injuries.

He is scheduled to make his return to Salt Lake City on Jan. 24 when the Lakers visit Utah for the first time this season. Malone spent 18 seasons with the Jazz before joining Los Angeles as a free agent last summer.

He is third on the Lakers in scoring, averaging 14.4 points, second in rebounding with 10.4 per game and third in assists (4.1).

Slava Medvedenko was likely to start in Malone's place Sunday night.