Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during their game at Barclays Center on October 27, 2021 in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant should have been ejected for launching the ball into the stands in Friday night’s 105-98 win over the Indiana Pacers, officials admitted after the game.
Instead, Durant was assessed with a technical foul for the infraction, which came after he drew a foul in the third quarter.
The league fined Durant $25,000 over the incident Saturday.
After the game, referee crew chief Sean Wright was asked why Durant didn’t draw an automatic ejection, per NBA rules.
POOL REPORT REGARDING KEVIN DURANT THROWING BALL INTO THE STANDS WITH 4:40 LEFT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER IN TONIGHT’S INDIANA PACERS AT BROOKLYN NETS GAMEhttps://t.co/Itkx1OdvLV
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) October 30, 2021
“In real time, the official that made the call did not think the ball entered the stands with force,” Wright said. “After seeing the video postgame, we did see that the ball did go into the stands with force and Kevin Durant should’ve been ejected.”
Durant finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in the victory.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took issue with the officials during the game and spoke up about the situation afterward.
“I’m not gonna share the explanation because I don’t wanna embarrass the officials; I don’t want to embarrass the league,” Carlisle said. “These guys are nice guys … they just made a big error.”