DeMarcus Cousins, Markieff Morris fined for altercation

Markieff Morris #88 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts toward DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Houston Rockets before being ejected during the first quarter of a game at Toyota Center. Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

DeMarcus Cousins, Markieff Morris fined for on-court altercation

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 1/12/21

The NBA fined Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris and Houston Rockets center DeMarcus Cousins for their roles in an on-court altercation in Sunday's game.

Lakers‘ Markieff Morris ($35,000) and Rockets‘ DeMarcus Cousins ($10,000) have been fined for their on-court altercation on Sunday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 12, 2021

Morris committed a flagrant foul on rookie Jae'Sean Tate during the first quarter of Sunday's game. Cousins responded by pushing Morris to the court. Morris then got up and shoved Cousins and continued to pursue him, explaining why he was fined a larger amount.

Both players received technical fouls and were ejected.

After the game, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas praised Cousins for standing up for Tate, who is in his first season in the NBA. Silas said Cousins' actions were "admirable."

Rockets coach Stephen Silas: "He wasn’t going to allow anything to happen to his rookie, and I think that’s admirable. ... Him sticking up for his teammate shows a lot of who DeMarcus Cousins is." https://t.co/h7o20Aa6c9
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 11, 2021