SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento’s Anthony Peeler was suspended for two games Monday for elbowing Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, meaning the Kings guard will miss Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Peeler was suspended without pay by the NBA.

Peeler hit Garnett in the midsection with 31.2 seconds left in the third quarter of Sunday’s Game 6. Peeler elbowed the league MVP in the head with 13.5 seconds remaining in the period and was ejected.

“The last guy who makes the blow is always the one who gets suspended,” Peeler said Sunday.

The Kings beat the Timberwolves 104-87 and forced a deciding game on Wednesday. Rodney Buford, who played one minute in the first five games, scored seven points in the fourth quarter Sunday and will be counted on once again to give Sacramento a boost in Game 7.

“I’m going to stay ready. Rick Adelman knows it,” Buford said at practice Monday. The players had left the Kings’ practice facility by the time the suspension was announced.

Buford said Peeler was in good spirits during practice even though he expected a suspension was coming.

“He’s AP — he’s always upbeat,” Buford said. “He acted like nothing happened. It’s just playoff basketball.”

Garnett was fined $7,500 for hitting Peeler in the chest with an elbow.

Peeler will serve the first game of his suspension Wednesday. He will then miss either Game 1 of the Western Conference finals or the first game of the 2004-05 season.