Wizards’ Bryant fined $45K for inappropriate contact with official

Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant (13) and Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) scuffle during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game. (Nick Wass/AP)

Washington Wizards centre Thomas Bryant has been fined $45,000 for repeatedly making inappropriate contact with a game official on Thursday, the league announced Saturday.

The incident occurred with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter of Washington’s 97-86 pre-season loss to the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 17. Bryant was wrestling with forward Blake Griffin in the post, and the latter gave him a shove (he received a flagrant foul) to send him tumbling to the hardwood. Rising quickly to his feet, Bryant attempted to aggressively confront Griffin.

As a game official tried to break up the ruckus, Bryant shoved him multiple times.

Bryant was consequently given a technical foul.

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