Spurs' Stephen Jackson fined for tweet on Serge Ibaka

Ibaka and Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace each received technical fouls when they became entangled late in the game on Friday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Jackson came to World Peace's defense and tweeted the following to Ibaka: “Somebody tell serg Abaka. He aint bout dis life. Next time he run up on me im goin in his mouth. That's a promise. He doin 2 much.”

San Antonio team general manager R.C. Buford said in a statement: “The recent public comments made by Stephen Jackson are absolutely unacceptable, can not be tolerated and do not reflect the standards held by the San Antonio Spurs.”

On Sunday, Jackson apologized for the tweet: “I apologize to @SergeIbaka, the NBA, and to all my fans for the comments I made. It was unprofessional and childish. I'm not a thug just a man who speaks his mind. It was not appropriate. I do apologize. Only a man can admit when he's wrong.”

FIGHTER'S CHANCE

Armed with a roster filled with long, athletic and physical players, Indiana coach Frank Vogel knew his Pacers had a chance to beat the defending Western Conference champions in its home gym.

“Half the teams that come into this building have lost the game already because they have no matchup that's even close to being able to handle (Russell) Westbrook and (Kevin) Durant,” Vogel explained before Sunday night's contest. “I'm not saying our (matchups) are favorable. There are no favorable matchups with those guys, but when you have length and guys who can guard their own positions as well as our two guys can, and you have guys who can protect the rim, then you have a chance.”