The NBA announced Tuesday that Nets forward Paul Pierce has been fined $15,000 for “making excessive and unnecessary contact” when he clotheslined Pacers guard George Hill during Brooklyn’s 103-86 home loss to Indiana on Monday.
Pierce was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected by the game officials for the play. With a little more than four minutes remaining in the third quarter and the Pacers leading 66-47, Hill stepped in to steal a Joe Johnson pass and took off for the races. Pierce tried to prevent the transition opportunity by reaching across Hills body’s with his left arm, and he contacted Hill in the neck and face as he swiped at the ball. At no time during the play did Pierce come close to getting the ball, and the force of his clothesline spun Hill hard to the ground and caused his head to whiplash backwards.
Pierce departed with zero points (on 0-for-7 shooting) and two rebounds in 15 minutes of action, marking his first scoreless game since March 9, 1999.
BEN GOLLIVER for Sports Ilustrated
