Pacers assistant suspended, player fined after tempers flare during game

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Things got heated between an Indiana Pacers player and an assistant coach during a loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.

Pacers assistant coach Greg Foster had to be held back while yelling at player Goga Bitadze late in the third quarter.

Bitadze gave up an uncontested dunk to a Kings player. Bitadze then hit a three pointer and was seen mouthing words to Foster.

The Pacers lost the game, 104-93.

The loss comes as national media outlets report that head coach Nate Bjorkgren is on the hot seat. The Pacers are 30-35, ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Foster is a former NBA player, spending more than a decade in the league with nine different teams.

Bitadze is averaging 5.1 points per game in his second year in the league.

On Thursday afternoon, the Pacers announced they will suspend Foster for one game and issue a fine to Bitadze.