Cuban fined for ref rips

The NBA fined Dallas owner Mark Cuban $500,000 on Friday for “public criticism and detrimental conduct” regarding officiating. Separately, the league sent a memo to teams reminding them of rules that govern conduct of owners, coaches and other team personnel during games.

The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, laid out parameters for proper conduct by team personnel toward game officials, how team personnel other than coaches are not allowed on the court during games and how they cannot use “profane or objectionable language that might be heard by spectators” during the game.

Further, it said the league's “enforcement of these rules with enhanced penalties will be a point of emphasis for the league office“during the rest of the season and beyond.

The first order of business Friday was NBA Commissioner

Adam Silver denying the Mavericks' protest of the outcome of a Feb. 22 game against Atlanta. Dallas contended that goaltending rules were misapplied when a late basket by Atlanta's John Collins was counted. Collins scored as a whistle was blown and goaltending of a layup attempt by the Hawks' Trae Young was called on Dallas' Dorian Finney-Smith. Collins grabbed Young's miss and scored, as confusion reigned.

“What I'll say on the record is hopefully they'll let us release our actual filing of the protest,” Cuban said Friday before the Mavericks' home game against Memphis. “I'm waiting to hear back from them. Then everybody gets to see why we thought it needed to be protested.”

Cuban also said he would match the fine with a donation that would include funding the heart transplant of a local man.