Noah, Pierce Receive $15K Fines For Roles In Altercation
(CBS) Bulls big man Joakim Noah and Wizards forward Paul Pierce have each been fined $15,000 for their roles in an altercation during Monday's preseason opener at the United Center, the NBA announced Wednesday afternoon.
Noah took issue with a hard foul that Pierce committed by extending his arm and hitting Jimmy Butler around the neck to prevent a transition opportunity early in the first quarter. After words were exchanged, Noah gave Pierce a shove in the chest, and Pierce responded by "hitting Noah in the forehead with his left index finger," as the NBA described it.
Noah downplayed the incident after the game, and Wizards coach Randy Wittman said Pierce was simply emotional after not receiving what he believed should've been a foul call on the other end.
As officials went to the monitor to see if Pierce's foul should be ruled flagrant, most of the Bulls reserves wandered onto the court before the altercation that occurred near the Chicago bench. After it started, several Wizards reserves rushed to Pierce's defense. Four of those received one-game suspensions to be served in the regular season for leaving the bench area during an altercation: DeJuan Blair, Nene, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas. Each crossed halfcourt.
Leaving the bench area is an automatic one-game suspension under NBA rules. A referee's monitor review isn't considered an official timeout.