Los Angeles Clippers’ Austin Rivers, top right, vies for the ball with Portland Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum, left, and Pat Connaughton during the second quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. AP Photo
LOS ANGELES, United States—Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers, son of Clips coach Doc Rivers, was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for throwing a seat cushion that hit a fan in the face.
NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe announced the disciplinary action one day after the Wednesday incident at the Kings’ arena in Sacramento.
With 7:47 left in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ season opening 111-104 win, Rivers flung the cushion. The fan it hit appeared to experience eye discomfort and those sitting near her expressed concern.
Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has also run afoul of league authorities in the first week of the season. He was fined $10,000 on Thursday for publicly criticizing officials after a season-opening 106-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
George, a two-time All-Star, had 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the game, but connected on just four of 17 shots from the field and complained of “a lot of bad calls” in the contest.
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