Celtics guard Marcus Smart fined $50K for shoving Sixers’ Embiid
Putting Sixers center Joel Embiid on his ass has cost Celtics guard Marcus Smart a whopping $50,000, NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe has announced.
Per the league’s official release, Smart’s fine was also “based on his repeated acts of unsportsmanlike conduct during NBA games,” including two prior incidents this season which have resulted in fines.
A fight almost breaks out after Marcus Smart pushes Embiid in the back during the game (@AAANe_MAnews) #AAANortheast pic.twitter.com/dHVVO5dKQB
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 21, 2019
Smart’s shove not early earned Smart an early hook by way of an ejection, but was met with some harsh criticism from Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who did not hold back when it came to expecting better out of the fifth-year pro.
“I’m disappointed in Marcus,” Stevens admitted after the 118-115 loss to the Sixers on Wednesday. “Like, we need you; Baynes is already out. We need him to be in the game. No matter what happens, we need that to happen.
“I already said it in the locker room but especially, again, with Baynes out, we needed him out there.”
Smart and the Celtics are back in action Saturday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
