The NBA has fined Chicago Bulls star Rajon Rondo $US25,000 for attempting to trip Boston's Jae Crowder from the bench.
Sidelined by a broken thumb, Rondo extended his leg as Celtics forward Crowder walked by after hitting a jumper then having words to Bulls bench during Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday.
The top-seeded Celtics went on to win 104-87 after dropping the first two games at home.
A former Celtics player himself, Rondo claimed afterward he was simply stretching his leg.
"When you tear an ACL, your leg gets stiff every once in a while," Rondo said after the game. "I was stretching my leg out. I always do that throughout the game, I guess he was so deep in our bench, it looked like what may have happened, happened."
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Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg defended his star point guard.
"I've said it all along this year: He's been as good a teammate and person to coach as I've ever been around, at any level, as far as my playing days and everything," said Hoiberg.
"Rajon is always going to go out, he's going to compete, he's going to give guys advice, and he's been an absolute pleasure all year."
