Tensions escalated as the buzzer sounded at Paycon Center on Tuesday night, with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lou Dort and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fiers having to be immediately separated after the Thunder won 104-95.
The NBA announced Thursday that it had fined Dort and Fiers $25,000 each.
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“Once the time expired, Dort pushed Fiers in the chest, and the two players then aggressively grabbed each other’s jerseys,” the league’s press release read.
But before that happened, Fiers grabbed an offensive rebound and the 19-year-old rookie appeared to be preparing for a layup but appeared to be fouled by Dortmund.
Then fear appeared on Dot’s face, at which point Dot pushed the fear away.
As a result, Dortmund grabbed Phils’ jersey, and Phils also took Dortmund’s jersey in retaliation. Soon, both teams were bleeding onto the court, ending the battle at the basket.
The fear had to be suppressed again and again, and finally slowly led off the pitch and escorted into the tunnel.
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Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars was even on the court to help last year’s seventh overall pick get into the locker room.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game that things got heated earlier in the night and he wished the officials had more control over the situation.
“I thought they lost control of the game in the last few minutes,” he said, via Oklahoma State’s Justin Martinez. “I think the final argument started early with [Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams] Condition. I think they could be cleaner.
“Then the second thing is, I think it’s a foul against Dortmund. If it is, they should blow the whistle in this game, regardless of the score and the time. Because if they do that, everyone stops the game and you can legislate the situation like normal.”
There was no in-game penalty for the Dortmund-Fiers altercation, but now they both have to pay a fine.