Collins fined for flipping the bird

NEW YORK (AFP) — The National Basketball Association (NBA) fined San Antonio Spurs big man Zach Collins $35,000 for flashing his middle finger at officials after he was ejected from a blowout loss to Sacramento on Friday.

“San Antonio Spurs forward-center Zach Collins has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court following his ejection,” the league said in a statement.

Collins was tossed with 9:07 left in the second quarter of Friday’s game after arguing with referees about a call.

The Spurs had tried to take him out of the game but he continued jawing with referee Michael Smith who slapped him with a technical foul.

Collins continued to rant until Smith gave him a second technical and the ejection.

The Spurs eventually lost the contest 140-113.

Meanwhile, Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner will be sidelined indefinitely with a torn right oblique muscle, a major blow for a club already missing star Paolo Banchero with the same injury.

Wagner was hurt in the Magic’s 102-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Jeff Weltman, Orlando president of basketball operations, said he would be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Wagner has played a key role in keeping the Magic competitive since Banchero was injured on 30 October.

He has scored at least 20 points in nine straight games and is averaging 24.4 points, 5.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game for the season.

At 16-9, the Magic are in third place in the Eastern Conference.

However, they are still without Banchero, who said on Monday he had “finally” been able to take part in some on-court ball-handling and spot shooting practice.

“Obviously (there) wasn’t any sprinting or cutting or anything,” Banchero said.

“But hopefully in the next few weeks I can start getting into more of that and just work my way back into playing shape.”