Knicks forward Julius Randle was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Sunday for shoving Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson and making contact with a referee who was trying to break up the altercation.
In the third quarter of the Suns' win over the Knicks on Friday night in Phoenix, both Johnson and Randle were called for technical fouls after bumping chests and exchanging words. The ref separated the two, but then Randle pushed Johnson through the ref and he was ejected.
Johnson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to finish with a career-high 38 points. His ninth 3-pointer in 12 tries came at the top of the key, capping a 21-point fourth quarter that included six 3s.
The Knicks looked like they were on their way to a road win before the ill-timed eruption of Randle in the third quarter sent him to the locker room. New York dropped its seventh straight game because of a 14-point lead that was blown by Randle.