New York (AFP) – Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Monday after multiple attempts at rushing Atlanta’s DeAndre Bembry after being ejected from a Saturday road victory.
Kiki VanDeWeghe, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations, said Smart was punished for aggressively pursuing an opponent in an attempt to escalate a physical altercation and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection.
Smart and Bembry exchanged words as the players lined up for a jump ball in the third quarter and had to be separated by teammates and coaches.
Smart broke free and rushed toward Bembry before being again restrained.
A second technical foul in the game against Smart saw him ejected 4:25 into the third quarter of Boston’s 113-105 triumph. Bembry was also assessed a technical foul over the incident.
The Celtics rank fifth in the Eastern Conference at 26-18, six games behind pace-setting Milwaukee, while the Hawks are 14-31, 7 1/2 games behind Charlotte for the eighth and final East playoff spot.
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