BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce has been fined 15,000 U.S. dollars?for his flagrant foul on George Hill of the Pacers.

Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indiana’s 103-86 win on Monday. Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up.

But his arm ended up going around Hill’s neck for a clothesline tackle. Referees ruled it a flagrant 2 after review, an automatic ejection.

The National Basketball Association said on Tuesday that Pierce made “excessive and unnecessary contact.”