Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was suspended for two games by the National Basketball Association on Friday for a flagrant foul penalty he picked up in a game Wednesday night against Memphis.

Bryant received the flagrant foul Penalty One call for elbowing Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies in the throat in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 100-99 loss to Memphis at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The incident was reviewed by the league and upgraded to a flagrant foul Penalty Two, resulting in the two game suspension without pay.

Bryant will serve his suspension by missing the game on New Year's Day at the Staples Center against the Utah Jazz and the return game in Salt Lake City on January 3.

Bryant is the second leading scorer in the NBA.