Pacers' Lance Stephenson to appeal technical foul from Game 7

Pacers guard Lance Stephenson is averaging 15.4 points and 8.9 rebounds in the postseason. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson said he is going to appeal the technical foul he received in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Stephenson was hit with a technical just a minute into the final quarter. It was Stephenson's third technical of the postseason, costing him $7,000. Any player that receives seven technical fouls in the postseason is automatically suspended for a game.

“I was trying to hit the ball out of his hands to get it to George Hill but the ref probably thought I was trying to smack him or something,” Stephenson said, via the team's website. "I don’t know. I don’t think I deserved a tech though.”

Stephenson said he hopes to have the technical reviewed by the league. The Pacers start their second-round series at home against the Washington Wizards on Monday.

“I haven’t talked to Larry [Bird] and Kevin [Pritchard],” Vogel said. “I think we should (appeal it). I think the officials did the right thing trying to just make sure that everybody stays under control. After looking at it, I don’t know if a technical is warranted.”

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