Clippers’ Matt Barnes fined $25,000 by NBA

The NBA fined Clippers forward Matt Barnes $25,000 on Thursday for failing to leave the court in a timely manner upon his ejection and using inappropriate language on his Twitter account during the game after his ejection.

Rod Thorn, the NBA’s president of basketball operations, informed Barnes and the Clippers on Thursday afternoon about the league’s decision, saying Barnes was in violation of NBA rules.

Players can’t tweet 45 minutes before a game or before they finish their media responsibilities after the game.

Because the NBA fined Barnes, the “One Penalty” rule in the collective bargaining agreement precludes the Clippers’ penalizing Barnes now.

Barnes was ejected from the Clippers’ game against Oklahoma City Wednesday night after a pushing match with Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, who was also ejected with 6.2 seconds left in the second quarter.

Barnes ran to help out teammate Blake Griffin, who also had gotten into a shoving match with Ibaka.

While the game was still going on, @Matt Barnes22 fired off a tweet that included a racial epithet and profanity: “I love my teammates like family, but I’m DONE standing up for these … All this … does is cost me money.”

Even though Barnes tweeted after he was ejected, the official said Barnes violated the rules.

“So it doesn’t matter that he was ejected,” the NBA official said. “That would give guys free passes to do whatever the heck they want.”

The Clippers will practice again on Friday in preparation for Saturday night’s home game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Barnes, who has always been good with the media, probably will talk to the media before practice Friday.

Barnes apologized on Twitter on Thursday to his teammates, the Clippers organization and fans.

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