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The NBA has fined Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder and Houston Rockets forward P.J. Tucker $25,000 apiece for the altercation that took place in the third quarter of Game 5 on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Neither player will be suspended, Wojnarowski added.
On the play, Tucker set a screen. Dennis Schroder tried to fight through it as he attempted to keep up with James Harden, but as he did, his arm went between Tucker’s legs. Schroder struck him in the groin.
The referee blew the whistle, and as Schroder got up, talking toward the referee, Tucker stood up angrily and yelled at Schroder from behind. Tucker then bumped Schroder’s head with his own.
Both were ejected from Game 5, which the Thunder lost 114-80.
— Follow @Dubs408 (@NotDubs408) August 30, 2020
On Sunday, Schroder said the low hit on Tucker was unintentional.
“We’re competitors, we try to go there and compete as hard as we can,” he said. “My family didn’t raise me that way to hurt somebody intentionally. I would never do that. It’s just unfortunate that I went between his legs.”
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It was the second time a Rockets player was hit in the groin this series. In Game 3, Chris Paul elbowed Ben McLemore in the groin as he tried to get around the Rockets guard.
It was called an offensive foul. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni thought it should have been reviewed for a flagrant foul.
D’Antoni also wanted it to be reviewed after the game, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. The Rockets wanted Schroder’s hit to be investigated by the league, as well.
Per sources, the Rockets are upset that Chris Paul was not investigated for striking Ben McLemore in the groin in Game 3, especially considering Paul's previous history of low blows. Houston wants the NBA to investigate Dennis Schroder's shot to PJ Tucker's groin.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 30, 2020
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