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NEW YORK (AP) — Charlotte Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Thursday for making unnecessary and excessive contact with Miami Heat forward LeBron James.
McRoberts' foul against James with 50 seconds remaining Wednesday night in Miami in the Heat's 101-97 playoff victory over the Bobcats also was upgraded to a Flagrant 2.
James drove and was met at the rim by McRoberts, whose right elbow struck the four-time NBA MVP around his chin. James immediately began grabbing at his throat and needed much longer than he usually does to get up after a hard foul, which was not called flagrant.
"I don't need to see it again," James said after the game. "Most important thing is we won the game."
Said McRoberts, who insisted it wasn't intentional: "It looked a lot worse than what it was."
The Heat lead the Eastern Conference first-round series 2-0. Game 3 is Saturday in Charlotte.
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