Celtics’ Irving fined for ball toss

Boston point guard Kyrie Irving was fined $25,000 by the league for throwing a basketball into the stands at the end of the Celtics’ 115-107 loss Monday night to the Denver Nuggets.

The source of Irving’s frustration was a last-second 3-point attempt by Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, who was trying to reach 50 points

“From a competitive standpoint, I think it absolutely deserved to go in the stands still,” said Irving, who was fined for throwing the ball almost to the top of the lower bowl inside Denver’s Pepsi Center. “You just don’t play basketball like that.

“It’s as simple as that. You just don’t.

“There’s a tradition and a respect within the league, as well as in any basketball game.

“Obviously you’ve won the game, you have it sealed, you’ve had a great game, game of your life, and you do something like that, it’s just ... it’s petty. It’s immature.

“We’ll see him again though.”

Lakers

Veteran center Tyson Chandler signed with Los Angeles two days after reaching a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns. Chandler, 36, will provide frontcourt depth for the Lakers, who have relied on JaVale McGee and undersized forwards to guard big men in their 4-6 start to the season.

Thunder

Oklahoma City star guard Russell Westbrook will miss Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a sprained left ankle. The team said it wants to see how the ankle responds to treatment for the next few days before providing another update.

Cavaliers

Forward Sam Dekker could be out a month with a sprained left ankle. Dekker was hurt in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 102-100 loss Monday night at Orlando. Dekker underwent further tests Tuesday that revealed the sprain. The Cavaliers said he will will be sidelined for two to four weeks.