SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA may have done the Knicks a little favor by fining Bobby Portis, rather than suspend him.
The Knicks already are reeling from Julius Randle leaving the squad in Los Angeles to deal with a family issue, while Marcus Morris is expected out with a neck injury for Wednesday’s western trip finale against Utah.
The league elected to fine Portis a whopping $25,000 after his dangerous slap to the head of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on Tuesday night, as the Lakers’ guard rose for a layup in the second quarter at Staples Center.
Portis was ejected on a flagrant 2 and NBA executive Kiki VanDeWeghe called the action “recklessly making contact above the shoulders of an airborne shooter.