NBA Notes: Ostertag ejected after berating official
Los Angeles ? Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag was ejected for arguing a non-call in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
Six minutes later, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan also was tossed.
Ostertag, a Kansas University product, and Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal got tied up and hooked arms under Utah’s basket two minutes in. Believing O’Neal should have been called for a foul, Ostertag shouted at referee Derrick Stafford, and Jazz teammate Matt Harpring tried to restrain him.
Ostertag fought off Harpring’s hold and kept shouting as Stafford called him for a technical. Ostertag charged at Stafford, who called him for a second technical. Sloan came out on the floor as Ostertag flailed his arms trying to get away from the grip of his teammates.
Stafford then ejected Ostertag, who kicked a pile of white towels near the Jazz bench as he stormed off the court. He also yanked a black Lakers banner that covered the tunnel to the locker room, but failed to pull it down.
Sloan was ejected at 4:12 after directing a running commentary toward Stafford.
“I thought Greg got hammered on the shot and there was no call on it. Obviously, he was upset,” Sloan said. “I sat there and got a little more upset when I thought about it. A lot of times the team is at a disadvantage because of me because I fight harder than I should.”
On Monday, the NBA fined Ostertag $7,500 because of the incident.
O’Neal and Ostertag have a history. In November 1997, O’Neal slapped Ostertag during a morning shootaround, was fined $10,000 and suspended for one game.
Sonics’ Lewis fined also
Also on Monday, Seattle forward Rashard Lewis was suspended for one game without pay. Lewis was penalized for shoving a fist in the face of Miami’s Travis Best with 6:34 left during Seattle’s 100-71 victory against the visiting Heat on Saturday.