ATLANTA _ Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was fined $25,000 by the NBA and retroactively assessed a technical foul for throwing his mouthpiece and entering the stands Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, league vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe announced Monday.
Cousins fouled out after being called for a blocking foul on Kris Dunn with 37.2 seconds to play in the Kings' 106-103 win. The two-time All-Star quickly rose to his feet and charged toward the seats behind the basket at Golden 1 Center and ran up the stairs. In frustration, he threw his mouthpiece on the stairs, retrieved it and left the game.
Had the technical been assessed Saturday, Minnesota would have attempted one more free throw. Dunn missed both free throws with the Timberwolves trailing 105-101.
In the second quarter, Cousins drew a technical, his first this season, for objecting to a foul call. But instead of getting angry, he smiled at referee Tony Brothers and gave a thumbs-up.
Last season, Cousins finished with 17 technicals, tying his career high. Now in his seventh season, he has 92 technicals.
