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Michael C. Wright, ESPN writer
Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Monday “for confronting and directing profane language toward the officiating staff” in the closing moments of Houston’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
VanVleet, called for an offensive foul with the Rockets trailing by five points with 4.3 seconds left, directed his ire at the three referees as he left the court, leading to a technical foul and his ejection.
Near the end of his tirade, VanVleet nearly touched a referee’s face while pointing at him as he walked off the court in a 104-98 loss.
“VanVleet was ejected for a technical foul for his foul language and pointing at the three referees,” team manager Courtney Kirkland explained to a team reporter after the game.
It seemed like VanVleet’s frustration initially came from not calling a 3-point attempt seconds before the offensive foul and subsequent technical foul were called.
Kirkland explained that after video review, the referees saw that “the defender closed the gap and made contact with VanVleet’s hip and a foul should have been called,” adding that the foul would have been a two-shot foul and not a shooting foul. a three-pointer, which would have given the point guard a chance to tie the game from the free throw line.
VanVleet, a ninth-year veteran, ranks third in scoring (14.5 points per game) for the Rockets, shooting 39.4% from the field and leading the team in assists (6.1).
