Basketball: NBA fines Iverson for verbal abuse

PHILADELPHIA - The NBA came down on 76ers guard Allen Iverson by fining the All-Star US$10,000 (NZ$13,680) for verbal abuse of a game official. The incident occurred with referee Marc Davis in Saturday's loss to Chicago.

Iverson was disturbed by an apparent comment Davis made toward the speedy guard following a 94-88 loss to Chicago. The former Georgetown star was vehemently upset about calls and challenged Davis after the game. Iverson said Davis responded by saying he would "whup my ass."

The 29-year-old Iverson then had to be restrained by teammates moments after the confrontation and later was seen heading toward the referees' dressing room before Sixers GM Billy King stepped in and calmed his star player down.

Iverson, playing with a chip fracture in his left thumb, leads the NBA in scoring with 30.3 points per game. He also leads the league in minutes (42.4) and ranks second in steals (2.32).

The first overall selection of the 1996 draft, Iverson scored a career-high 60 points - the most in the NBA this season - in a victory over Orlando on February 12. He owns three scoring titles and was named the 2000-01 NBA Most Valuable Player. That season, he led the league in scoring (31.1 ppg) and steals (2.51 spg).

Philadelphia, currently in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, is 4-2 in its last six games.

- REUTERS / SPORTS NETWORK