Steph Curry fined $25K, avoids Game 7 suspension

MANILA, Philippines – Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will not be forced to sit out Game 7 of the NBA Finals after being ejected from Game 6 for throwing his mouthguard.

The two-time reigning MVP has been fined $25,000 USD for throwing a mouthpiece into the stands after fouling out with 4:22 left to play on Thursday, June 6 (Friday Manila time), according to a league statement. The mouthpiece struck a courtside observer, after which Curry apologized and shook hands with the man.

“I’ve thrown my mouthpiece before. I usually aim at the scorer’s table. I was off aim. Definitely didn’t mean to throw it at a fan,” Curry said after the game.

It was Curry’s first time to foul out of a game since 2013, and his first time to be ejected.

Steph Curry fouls out and throws his mouthguard at a fan….and then apologizes. What. pic.twitter.com/YHj1phUA4Q

— Complex Sports (@Complex_Sports) June 17, 2016

Warriors head coach and 6-time NBA Champion Steve Kerr also was hit with a fine of the same amount for criticizing the officiating of the game, which the Warriors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers by 14, 115-101.

(READ: Klay Thompson: 73-9 season a failure without championship)

Kerr claimed after the game that 3 of Curry’s fouls were “ticky-tack fouls” which shouldn’t have been called.

“He had every right to be upset. He’s the MVP of the league. He gets six fouls called on him; three of them were absolutely ridiculous,” Kerr said.

The 2016 NBA Finals will now be decided in a winner-take-all Game 7 back in Oakland, where the defending champions will try to avoid becoming the first team in NBA history to lose a finals series after leading 3-1. – Rappler.com