Celtics' Rondo suspended for throwing ball at official

Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (R) is escorted off the court after being ejected from the game during the second half of their NBA game against the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Michigan February 19, 2012.

(Reuters) - Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended two games for throwing a ball at an official and striking him in the chest, the National Basketball Association (NBA) said on Monday.

Frustrated by the lack of a foul call on an opponent during the third quarter of the Celtics' 96-81 road loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Rondo threw the ball at the official, earning himself a double technical and automatic ejection.

The suspension comes at a bad time for a struggling Boston team who are on a three-game losing skid and have lost five of their last six.

Rondo will miss road games against the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on Monday and Wednesday's meeting with high-scoring Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Frank Pingue)