Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA for using “profane language” toward game officials near the end of a 104-98 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.
VanVleet scored eight points on 4-of-13 shooting in a game that was tied 96-96 with under a minute remaining. The Trail Blazers finished off the victory by scoring the final five points, all from the free-throw line in the final 16 seconds.
VanVleet was called for an offensive foul with 4.3 seconds left and the Rockets trailing 103-98. He was then called for a technical foul and ejected. VanVleet pointed his finger toward all three referees as he left the court and extended his index finger near the face of one as he departed.
VanVleet, 30, has averaged 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 17 games (all starts) this season. Over nine career seasons with the Toronto Raptors (2016-23) and Rockets, he has averaged 15.0 points with 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists over 507 games (358 starts). He was named an All-Star in the 2021-22 season.
