NBA fines Rajon Rondo $25,000 for attempting to trip Celtics' Jae Crowder

The NBA fined Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo $25,000 for attempting to trip Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder while seated on the bench in Game 3 of their first round playoff series on Friday.

Rondo, who is out with a thumb injury suffered in Game 2, appeared to lift his right leg as Crowder ran by the Bulls bench.

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When later asked whether he tried to trip Crowder, Rondo - who tore his right ACL in Jan. 2013 - said, "Nah, when you tear an ACL, your legs get stiff on you every once in a while. I stretched my leg out. I always do that throughout the game, it just - I guess he was so deep into our bench, it looked like maybe (that) may have happened."

The Celtics won Game 3 104-87 and now trail 2-1 in the series that resumes with Game 4 in Chicago on Sunday. Rondo, who spent the first nine years of his career in Boston, averaged 11.5 points, 10 assists, and 3.5 steals in the first two games but is out indefinitely with the thumb injury.