NEW YORK — Kevin Durant was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Friday for his offensive and derogatory language in social media messages to actor Michael Rapaport.
Rapaport released images of the private messages Tuesday on his Twitter account, and they included homophobic and misogynistic language from the Brooklyn Nets star.
Durant apologized Thursday, saying: “I’m sorry that people seen the language that I used. That’s not really what I want people to see and hear from me, but hopefully I can move past it and get back out on the floor.”
He is hoping to return soon from a strained left hamstring.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
RAPTORS 130, WARRIORS 77: Pascal Siakam scored 36 points in three quarters and Toronto routed Golden State in Tampa, Florida, with the largest margin of victory in the NBA this season.
Toronto shot 53.4% and won for just the second time in 15 games. The Raptors pushed their lead to 61 points when Malachi Flynn hit a short jump shot with 6:29 remaining.
MAVERICKS 99, KNICKS 86: Luka Doncic scored 26 points and Dallas won at New York.
The Mavericks were without Coach Rick Carlisle, who tested positive for COVID-19 in the morning. After the positive test, Carlisle stayed behind at the team hotel. He met virtually with reporters about an hour before the game to announce the positive test while revealing publicly for the first time that he has been fully vaccinated since February. Assistant Jamahl Mosley filled in for Carlisle.
HORNETS 114, PACERS 97: Reserve guard Miles Bridges scored a season-high 23 points and short-handed Charlotte overcame another injury to win at Indiana.
Charlotte was without two starters and lost guard Gordon Hayward for the second half because of a right foot sprain.
GRIZZLIES 120, TIMBERWOLVES 108: Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 11 rebounds, eight Grizzlies scored in double-figures, and Memphis used a second-half burst to beat visiting Minnesota.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 30 points and 16 rebounds.
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