NBA Upgrades Flagrant, Fines Mavericks' Justin Anderson $25K

The NBA has fined Dallas Mavericks' swingman Justin Anderson $25,000 for a flagrant foul against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Kris Dunn. Anderson was called for a flagrant 1 foul for striking Dunn in the head with few minutes left in the second quarter of the Timberwolves' 101-92 victory at the Target Center on Monday. The league upgraded it to a flagrant foul 2 on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old player, in an attempt to block Dunn's bid for a breakaway layup, hit Dunn across the head, knocking him to the court. He was assessed a flagrant 1 foul by game officials, but league officials, upon review ruled it as a more serious flagrant 2, which was described as involving unnecessary and excessive contact.

Anderson avoided a suspension for making contact with his opponent. He connected with Dunn's head as he went for a lay-up while it initially seemed as though the mavericks' swingman was going for the basket ball and just missed. However, it was found upon further review that Anderson clearly came nowhere close to the basketball on the play, Fanrag reports.

New York knicks' big man Kyle O'Qunn was also fined $25,000, after he pushed airborne Anthony Davis so hard that the Pelicans star crashed into courtside seats. It was reported by that O'Quinn was specifically cited for striking and pushing down.

O'Quinn received a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected. Knicks' forward Carmelo Anthony was also ejected from the same outing against the New Orleans Pelicans. O'Quinn was fined for his unnecessarily hard foul against Pelicans' center Davis while the game was already well out of reach for the Knicks. On Monday, Davis left the game with a hip injury, had 40 points and 18 rebounds in 29 minutes, according to Inquirer.

The pelicans said it is not certain if he will be available for their game at the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The mavericks have the worst record in the entire western conference with 11-27 for the year.