Los Angeles Clippers star Matt Barnes has been fined $50,000 after trash talking Houston Rockets guard James Harden’s mother during their Game 2 clash.
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Barnes apologises to Harden’s mum: Clippers star trash talked her.
The NBA announced their disciplinary action on Friday after he directed inappropriate language at a courtside fan who ultimately turned out to be Harden’s mum.
Barnes insisted after the game that he was just responding to a remark made at him and wasn’t aware who the person was, although Harden’s mother did reveal that he came over to apologise to her after her eldest son had spoken to him.
“We’ve made our peace,” Barnes said, according to ESPN.
“We’ve spoken twice since the incident. She said something and I said something back. I’ve heard speculation to what I allegedly said, which is crazy and untrue, but it is what it is. They’re trying to start controversy. She said something and I said something back. I spoke to her at halftime and I spoke to her after the game and we’re fine.”
Clippers coach Doc Rivers has also spoken to his forward as he continues to be hit with fines by the league, while Harden has insisted that he is now focused on Game 3 while admitting that it is disrespectful to talk to any player’s parents.
Both teams will look to put the incident behind them now, but it does add extra spice to the match-up and things could threaten to boil over as there have been numerous clashes both on and off the court.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale hit back suggestions from the Clippers that there was a foul discrepancy by simply telling them to stop fouling his players, while Rivers has been seen joking with Rockets fans in some light-hearted exchanges.
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