SoccerPreview
Can Saints beat Ipswich to blow automatic promotion race wide open?
Southampton faces Ipswich in a pivotal Championship match that could shake up promotion hopes.
Sky Sports1 min read
NBA
Lakers’ Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard fined for criticism, interaction with refs
TL;DR
Lakers' Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 and Luke Kennard $25,000 for criticizing referees after their Game 4 loss to the Rockets. Smart questioned the integrity of officials, while Kennard used inappropriate language towards them.
Key points
- Marcus Smart fined $35,000 for criticizing referees
- Luke Kennard fined $25,000 for inappropriate language
- Fines issued after Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Rockets
- Smart's comments were about Deandre Ayton's ejection
- Lakers lead the series 3-1
LakersNBA
Two Lakers guards were fined by the NBA because of their criticism and interactions with the referees after Sunday’s Game 4 loss to the Rockets.
The league announced on Monday that Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 for “questioning the integrity of game officials”, while Luke Kennard was fined $25,000 for “directing inappropriate language toward game officials”.
Smart said after Sunday’s loss in the best-of-seven first round series, which the Lakers are leading 3-1, that Deandre Ayton’s ejection midway through the third quarter was “BS” after Ayton was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Alperen Sengun in the head.
“That’s what we felt,” Smart added. “He was just trying to brace himself. Two guys who are sweating their butts off playing the game, arm slips up, right? But we’re proud of the way he handled it, and I think that just speaks volume about who he is and his progression.”
Kennard was in the midst of a postgame verbal back-and-forth between the Lakers and Rockets.
“Hilarious, very hilarious,” Smart said of the postgame scene.
Q&A
Why were Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard fined by the NBA?
Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 for questioning the integrity of game officials, and Luke Kennard was fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language towards them.
What incident led to the fines for the Lakers players?
The fines followed their comments and interactions with referees after the Lakers' Game 4 loss to the Rockets, particularly regarding Deandre Ayton's ejection.
How much were Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard fined?
Marcus Smart was fined $35,000, while Luke Kennard received a $25,000 fine.
