NEW YORK — Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been fined $50,000 by the NBA following an incident that occurred after his ejection during Friday night’s game, the league announced Saturday.
According to NBA head of basketball operations James Jones, Atkinson was penalized for aggressively confronting, verbally berating, and making unintended contact with a game official.
The incident took place late in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 126–113 loss to the Phoenix Suns, when Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul and ejected with 10:59 remaining in the game.
Atkinson appeared to be reacting to a no-call involving Suns guard Collin Gillespie, who was closely defending Sam Merrill on the perimeter, prompting the Cavaliers coach’s visible frustration.
The defeat ended Cleveland’s five-game winning streak. The Cavaliers are scheduled to return to action on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
