Houston ? Houston Rockets forward Maurice Taylor was suspended a minimum of 10 games without pay by the NBA Friday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Taylor’s suspension begins tonight when the Rockets play host to the Orlando Magic and will continue until he has resumed full compliance with his treatment program, the NBA said in a statement.

Taylor was not immediately available for comment Friday.

Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said he didn’t know the details of why Taylor was suspended.

“I don’t know what it was or consisted of,” Dawson said. “The league will handle this and then tell us what they want us to know. I’d like to know more about it.”

The NBA, its teams and the players’ association are prohibited from disclosing information regarding the testing or treatment of any player in the program.

Taylor was suspended by the league for the first five games of the 2002 season for smoking marijuana.

He was previously suspended in December 2001 after acknowledging that he had used marijuana in violation of league rules.

Taylor was on the team’s disabled list at the time and served his suspension at the start of the next season.

In four games this season, Taylor has averaged 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 23.5 minutes.

Earlier this season, the Rockets suspended forward Eddie Griffin after he missed several practices and a team flight.