The NBA on Sunday suspended Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn for two games and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. for one, the result of a fight the two had during a game the previous night.
In a statement, NBA head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Dunn was disciplined for “initiating an altercation and throwing a punch” at Smith, who was suspended the one game for fighting.
Based on their contracts, Dunn will lose $35,678 for the two-game suspension, and Smith will lose $53,601.
Both players were ejected after throwing punches five seconds into the second quarter of Houston’s 147-119 home win.
The fight happened after the pair got tangled up while the ball was being brought up the court. Players and officials got between them before the scuffle could escalate further. Both players were assessed technical fouls for fighting.
None of the punches thrown appeared to connect.
Dunn said the two “exchanged a couple words, a couple pushes and the next thing you know, we’re ejected.”
Dunn will miss games Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks and Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs. Smith will serve his suspension Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Information from ESPN’s Bobby Marks and The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source: www.espn.com