Dwight Howard Photo by Celest Flores/INQUIRER.net file photo
NEW YORK CITY – Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for tossing a ball into the stands in a match in Dallas that his team eventually lost.
Shortly after he was fouled with less than three minutes to play, Howard was heckled by a fan near the court during the Wednesday game.
He spun the ball toward the fan, who swatted it back to the court.
The Rockets were leading 116-111 at the time.
Howard was assessed a technical foul and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki made the free throw.
The Mavericks went on to win 123-120 despite Howard’s season-high 33 points and 11 rebounds for the visitors.
NBA President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn announced the fine.