CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard JR Smith and Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart were fined by the NBA for their actions in Saturday night’s preseason game between the Eastern Conference powers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Smith was assessed a $15,000 fine for “initiating the altercation,” while Smart drew a $25,000 penalty for rushing into the scrap and pushing Smith from behind, according to Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
Smith was given a technical foul for starting the issue, while Smart was awarded a technical foul and was ejected from the game.
With 3:38 remaining in the first quarter, Smith and Celtics center Aron Baynes got tangled up while trying to gain position in the high post as Boston made a shot. After getting spun around by Baynes, Smith shoved the Boston post player in the chest.
That is when Smart rushed in from beyond the three-point arc and shoved Smith in the back.
As Smith backed away from the situation, with the help of an official, he was seen smiling at Smart, who did not reciprocate the gesture. Smart had to be physically restrained by forward Jayson Tatum and point guard Terry Rozier III.
Smart, Tatum and Rozier ended up on the floor before working their way over to the Celtics’ bench.
After playing a home-and-home series to open up the 2018 preseason, both of which were won by Cleveland, the Cavaliers and Celtics will renew their rivalry in the regular season on Friday, November 30 at TD Garden in Boston.
Additionally, the Cavaliers and Celtics will play in Boston on Wednesday, January 23, as well as in Cleveland on Tuesday, February 5 and Tuesday, March 26.