NBA Announces Punishment for Marcus Smart After Lakers’ Game 4 Loss

By Cole SullivanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The Los Angeles Lakers entered Sunday night’s matchup against the Houston Rockets holding a 3-0 series lead, just one win away from advancing to the second round despite being without both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves due to injuries.However, the Rockets played with urgency from start to finish and dominated Game 4, 115-96, led by Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.After the game — which ended with both teams needing to be separated — the NBA took notice of comments made by Lakers guard Marcus Smart and ultimately fined him $35,000 for “questioning the integrity of the officials.”The league also fined guard Luke Kennard $25,000 for “directing inappropriate language” toward a referee.More news: Kevin Durant Goes Viral for Taunting Deandre Ayton After EjectionView this post on XMore news: LeBron James Calls Out NBA Officiating After Lakers LossSmart was seen going off on referee James Williams moments after the game concluded — not the first time this postseason Williams has faced backlash. Devin Booker also vocally criticized his officiating during the Phoenix Suns’ first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.Both Kennard and Smart have played significant roles in the success of the Lakers throughout this first-round series. While the team struggled collectively in Game 4, Smart made franchise history in Games 2 and 3, becoming the first Lakers player to record back-to-back games with 20-plus points and five-plus steals....Game 5 will shift back to Los Angeles on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers will look to close out the series, while the Rockets aim to extend it and force a return to Houston.More news: LeBron James Assigns Blame After Lakers’ Game 4 Loss to RocketsRequest Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI GuidelinesRelated PodcastsTop StoriesPoliticsKing Charles and Queen Camilla Meet the Trumps at White House9 min readPoliticsThe Plots Against the Presidents4 min readWorldIran Heads to Russia for Help on US War—Why?6 min readPoliticsFact Check: Did Cole Allen Appear With Usha Vance in 2017 Video?3 min readFor MembersAnalysisTrump Is Right—Iran Has No Cards as Blockade Clock Ticks Down to May8 min readNewsSenator Calls for Hearing Over Trump’s Security as Ballroom Pressure Grows6 min readTrendingOhioSupreme Court Deals Final Blow to Ex-GOP Speaker in $60M Bribery Case4 min readSusan CollinsSusan Collins’ Chances of Losing Senate Seat Hit All-Time High5 min readDogsDog Trainer Reveals 5 Signs Your Pup Feels Emotionally Safe at Home3 min readGreen CardGreen Card Update: Applicants Impacted by Trump Travel Ban Get Legal Win6 min readShootingBrewery Appears to Cheer Trump Assassination Attempt, Provokes Backlash8 min readOpinionOpinionThe Trump Staged Shooting Conspiracies Need to Stop | Opinion6 min readOpinionThe DNC Didn’t Ban AIPAC, But Warning Signs Remain | Opinion5 min readOpinionWar Won’t Solve Iran’s Nuclear Threat. This Could | Opinion5 min readOpinionMillions of Clicks on Sexual Assault—Where’s The Outrage?4 min readOpinionDoes the Right Still Believe in ‘No More Souters’?6 min read

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