Bobby Portis was ejected during the second quarter of the Knicks' 117-87 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday the NBA issued Portis a $25,000 fine for his Flagrant 2 foul.
The NBA announced that Portis was fined for "recklessly making contact" above the shoulders of LA's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Caldwell-Pope went up for a dunk when Portis, who was trailing behind him, swung his forearm, hitting Caldwell-Pope's head.
Bobby Portis was ejected for a Flagrant 2 on KCP 😬
- Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 8, 2020
(via @SportsCenter) pic.twitter.com/sq1V1ImdGX
Portis immediately expressed his apologies after the game when asked by reporters, and tweeted out the same sentiment on Wednesday.
"It wasn't intentional at all," Portis said after the game. "Went for the ball. Apologies to Caldwell-Pope. Happy to see him back on the court doing his thing. My intent is never to hurt anyone or anything. Just tried to make a play on the ball, missed the ball, and hit him in the head.
"Like I said, that's not my intent to hurt anybody, but I do apologize and I am sincere for it."
truly apologize to @CaldwellPope on this play..my intent was not to hurt him...was just trying to make a play on the ball...I come to compete everyday and I only know one way to play and that's to give 100% ... I'm glad he's ok https://t.co/VXnWE67Gms
- Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) January 8, 2020
Meanwhile, LeBron James said after Tuesday's game that he thought it was a dirty play.
"It was," James said. "There was no play at the ball. I saw the windup happen before the impact. I saw the way he was chasing KCP down and did the windup. I saw the play happening before it actually happened. So I just voiced my words about what happened. And then the refs came between us. But I definitely know it wasn't a basketball play."
Portis was not suspended for his actions, and he is available to play in Wednesday's game against the Jazz.