NBA: Pacers forward George fined over TV rant

Paul George. AFP FILE

LOS ANGELES, United States — Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has been hit with a $35,000 fine after criticizing officials and swearing during a television interview, the NBA said in a statement on Saturday.

George was unhappy with a series of calls after the Pacers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 104-97 on Friday.

“The stripes (were) terrible,” George told local television station FOX Sports Indiana.

“We (had to) go out and just play. The way this game was going and how they (were) calling it, we had to play. … It’s frustrating, but hopefully the league does a better job of looking at shit like this.”

George contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds during the win but also gave up seven turnovers.

It is not the first time George has been fined for criticizing match officials.

He was fined $10,000 after the Pacers opening game of the season when they were beaten 106-99 by the Toronto Raptors.

In 2014 he was ordered to pay $25,000 by the NBA after suggesting that a Pacers defeat to the Miami Heat was caused by biased refereeing or “home cooking.”