John Wall Fined for Interaction with Referee vs. Rockets: Details and Reaction
The NBA fined Washington Wizards point guard John Wall $25,000 for an "inappropriate interaction with an official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner" after he was ejected during the team's 114-106 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday, CSN Philly's Jessica Camerato reported Wednesday.
Although Wall appeared to merely graze referee Marc Davis, the official whistled the point guard for his second technical foul of the game and tossed him from the contest:
Although Davis' decision appeared harsh at first glance, he explained the actions that precipitated Wall's ejection after the game.
"I felt that there was contact and that [Wall] bumped me," he said, per the Washington Post's Candace Buckner. "I wasn't certain of his intent. I told him to watch himself. He looked over his shoulder and used vulgarity and inappropriate language and was ejected on his second technical foul."
The start of the 2016-17 season has been anything but pleasant for the Wizards. They've stumbled out of the starting blocks under new head coach Scott Brooks, and their record dipped to 1-5 with Monday's loss.
"Nobody is happy," guard Bradley Beal said, according to CSN Mid-Atlantic's J. Michael. "Everyone's emotions are a little high. Everybody is mad. We are 1-5. We did not expect to be like this. We just have to figure it out."
The Wizards may be frustrated, but they'll have to weather the storm and try to make it through the rest of the week without tensions boiling over.
Washington will play host to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday and Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday before traveling to the Windy City for a showdown with the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
