The Thunder have lost three straight games, and their season took another negative turn Wednesday when Russell Westbrook, Paul George and head coach Billy Donovan were all fined $15,000 by the NBA, according to ESPN.com.
The fines stem from comments made after Sunday's 103-99 loss to the Trail Blazers, when Thunder players defended teammate Carmelo Anthony after he was ejected for a controversial Flagrant-2 foul call.
Anthony's Flagrant-2 foul was upheld by the league Wednesday, the report said, but Westbrook's flagrant foul from Tuesday's loss to the Kings was downgraded to a common foul.
"The flagrant 2 called on Carmelo Anthony on Sunday stands as called," a league spokesman said on Wednesday. "We reviewed it, the same as we review all plays of this nature, and agree with the on-court officials that the foul met the criteria of hard contact above the shoulders with high potential for injury.
"While attempting to draw a foul, Anthony extended his elbow into his opponent's face, which is dangerous and reckless in nature."
So far, the Thunder's attempt to topple the Warriors in the Western Conference has endured a bumpy start. But Westbrook, last season's MVP winner, has the talent to get this team moving back in the right direction.
