Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA yesterday for using a derogatory gay term in frustration over a referee’s call Tuesday night.
NBA Commissioner David Stern issued a swift disciplinary ruling after Bryant cursed and used the homophobic slur when referee Bennie Adams called a technical foul on him in the third quarter of a victory over the Spurs.
“Kobe Bryant’s comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable,” Stern said. “While I’m fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated.”
Last night, Bryant’s tying 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, and the Lakers went on to hand the Kings a 116-108 loss in what might have been the last game ever in Sacramento. The Lakers will face the No. 7 Hornets in the first round.
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The Suns, behind Marcin Gortat‘s 21 points, denied the Spurs a chance for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with a 106-103 victory.
San Antonio, which lost Manu Ginobili to an right elbow injury early in the game, finished at 61-21, one game behind Chicago for the best record in the NBA. The Spurs face the eight-seeded Grizzlies in the first round.
The Mavericks, the No. 3 seed in the West, beat the Hornets 121-89 and will face No. 6 Portland in the opening round.
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Gordon Hayward scored 34 points in the Jazz’s 107-103 win over the Nuggets, who already had clinched the No. 5 seed and will face Oklahoma City in the opening round.
Denver guard Ty Lawson had to be helped off the court after spraining his left ankle.
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra rested LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in last night’s 97-79 win over the Raptors. Miami will host the 76ers in its postseason opener on Saturday.
