Dwight Howard fined $25K for tossing ball at heckler

A baseline fan distracted Dwight Howard in the fourth quarter against the Mavericks. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The NBA has fined Dwight Howard $25,000 for throwing a ball into the stands during Houston’s 123-120 loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday.

The fine was first reported by Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports.

Howard tossed the ball at a heckling fan after being fouled on the baseline with 2:54 left in the game at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets' center -- who rejected the Mavericks' bid to sign him as a free agent --  was given an automatic technical foul as a result.

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Here's video of the play via YouTube user frank den