Dennis Schroder and Raymond Felton suspended for Thunder-Bulls fight

The Bulls and Thunder got into a fight Monday.

The main participants: Robin Lopez, Jerami Grant and Kris Dunn.

The most penalized: Dennis Schroder and Raymond Felton.

NBA release:

Oklahoma City Thunder guards Raymond Felton and Dennis Schröder have each been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area during an altercation and participating in the altercation which spilled over into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. As part of the same incident, Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez has been fined $25,000 for escalating the altercation, Thunder forward Jerami Grant has been fined $20,000 for escalating the altercation, and Bulls guard Kris Dunn has been fined $15,000 for instigating the altercation by shoving Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.

The NBA automatically suspends players one game for leaving the bench during a fight. It’s a good rule that players know. Even peacemakers, like Schroder and Felton appeared to be, can easily escalate situations. In the heat of an altercation, more people entering the fracas tends to create more hostility.

Monday’s fight spilled over the sideline near the Thunder’s bench, giving out-of-the-game Oklahoma City players a little more leeway to be involved. Schroder got right in the midst of the action, and his suspension was clear. But Hamidou Diallo was right behind Felton in the area between the bench and the fight. Apparently, Felton went just too far, and Diallo didn’t.

These suspensions will significantly affect the Thunder.

They’ll miss both their backup point guards against the Kings tonight. Oklahoma City must get creative when Westbrook rests – if Westbrook rests.

The Thunder are also in line to save $293,090 in luxury tax. Because Oklahoma City is so far into the repeater tax, even these one-game suspensions matter so much to the bottom line.

Schroder will lose $106,897. Felton will lose $16,510. Of course, Lopez ($25,000), Grant ($20,000) and Dunn ($15,000) also lose money. One-game suspensions for leaving the bench during a fight always trigger debate about that rule. But at least the fines seem fair here.