NBA: Nets’ Pierce fined $15,000

Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce (34) reacts during the second half of the Nets 102-93 victory over in the Los Angeles Clippers in their NBA basketball game at the Barclays Center, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in New York. AP FILE PHOTO

NEW YORK – Brooklyn forward Paul Pierce was handed a $15,000 fine by the NBA on Tuesday, a day after he was thrown out of the Nets’ blowout loss to Indiana.

The NBA veteran was ejected from the contest and charged with a flagrant foul 2 with 4:22 remaining in the third quarter after clashing with Pacers point guard George Hill.

Hill was racing toward the basket on a fast break when Pierce caught him on the neck with his left arm, sending Hill crashing to the court.

NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn said Pierce had been fined “for making excessive and unnecessary contact with George Hill of the Indiana Pacers.”

Pierce didn’t score a point in the game, just the second time in 1,123 games that the 16-year veteran was held scoreless and the first time since March 1999 when he was an NBA rookie.