NBA Decides Not to Fine Larry Brown

The NBA announced that Clipper Coach Larry Brown will not be fined for actions during Saturday’s game at Utah when he had to be restrained from trying to get at referee Ken Mauer and did not leave the court immediately after being ejected.

Wednesday’s decision indicates that Rod Thorn, the league’s vice president for operations, believes Brown was provoked into the outburst when Mauer came to the Clipper bench to start a face-to-face argument. That is a rare occurrence among NBA officials, and chances are good Mauer was fined or reprimanded, though those decisions are not announced, per league policy.

“I’d rather just leave it at that,� Thorn said. “After looking at the situation thoroughly and talking to both principals, I decided not to fine Coach Brown.�