Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder and Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker were fined $ 25,000 each after their altercation in Game 5 of the West Conference first round series on Saturday.
Executive Vice President of NBA Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe announced the punishment Sunday.
As Schroder ran across a Tucker screen, he swung his arm between Tucker’s legs, taking him under his belt. Tucker, who was booed for an illegal screen, approached from behind Schroder, yelling at him and eventually butting him in the back of the head. After a review, the foul on Tucker remained, but the referees sent both players off, with Schroder given a flagrant foul 2 and Tucker a dead-ball technical foul with disqualification.
On Sunday, the League said in a statement that Schroder was fined “for making contact with Tucker’s groin area”. He said Tucker was fined “for approaching Schroder and making contact with him in the escalation of the altercation”, but that his contact with the veteran guard “did not meet the standard for a warhead.”
The Rockets lead the 3-2 series with a chance to close the Thunder on Monday.
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