Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder and Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker have been fined $25,000 each after their altercation in Game 5 of their West Conference first-round series on Saturday.
NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe announced the punishment Sunday.
As Schroder ran through a Tucker screen, he swung his arm between Tucker’s legs, catching him below the belt. Tucker, who was whistled for an illegal screen, walked up behind Schroder, yelling at him and eventually head-butting the back of his head. After a review, the foul on Tucker stood, but the officials ejected both players, with Schroder given a flagrant foul 2 and Tucker a dead-ball technical foul with an ejection.
On Sunday, the league said in a statement that Schroder was fined “for making contact to the groin area” of Tucker. It said Tucker was fined “for approaching Schroder and making contact with him in escalation of the altercation” but that his contact with the veteran guard “did not meet the standard for a headbutt.”
The Rockets lead the series 3-2 with a chance to close the Thunder on Monday.
