NBA CHAMPIONSHIP : LAKERS VS. CELTICS : Notebook : Worthy Fined $2,000; 9 Others Also Penalized

A total of $8,000 fines have been handed out by the National Basketball Assn. as a result of physical and verbal skirmishes in Game 4 of the league finals last Tuesday night.

Rod Thorn, the league’s director of operations, said 10 players had been fined, with the Lakers’ James Worthy being the most heavily penalized.

Worthy was fined $2,000 for initiating an altercation with, and throwing several punches at, Greg Kite of the Boston Celtics.

Thorn, after reviewing the incident, had said that Worthy “overreacted” after being knocked to the floor by Kite and Dennis Johnson while driving to the basket with 15 seconds left in the second quarter of Game 4.

Neither Kite nor Johnson were fined. Laker reserve Adrian Branch, however, was fined $1,000 for leaving the bench area and throwing a punch. Laker guard Byron Scott also was fined $1,000 for leaving the bench area and throwing several elbows.

In addition, five other players were fined $500 apiece for leaving the bench area: Mike Smrek, A.C. Green, Billy Thompson and Wes Matthews of the Lakers and Jerry Sichting of the Celtics.

Thorn also levied fines against Celtic President Red Auerbach and Coach K.C. Jones for critical comments they made about referee Earl Strom following the game. Auerbach had followed Strom into the officials’ dressing room after the game, shouting expletives. Jones had said it appeared to him that Strom was wearing a Laker uniform.

Laker guard Michael Cooper, who suffered a sprained right knee Thursday when he knocked knees with Celtic guard Dennis Johnson, was examined again here Friday by Dr. Robert Kerlan, who reported no change in Cooper’s condition.

Cooper’s availability is listed as day-to-day, but he said he plans to play Sunday.

“When push comes to shove, I’ll be out there,” Cooper said, “even if I have to drag it out there.

“You know, like the old Willis Reed stunt. Hopefully, I can at least supply some intensity and emotion.”

Laker Coach Pat Riley, on the play of forward A.C. Green, who is averaging just 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds against Boston, well below his performance in the regular season and in the early rounds of the playoffs:

“Size. It’s obvious he can’t guard either one of those guys (Robert Parish and Kevin McHale). He’s not big enough, and he doesn’t have the experience (to compensate).”

Riley said playing three games in Boston resulted in “lethargy and distraction” for the Lakers.

“Can you imagine if (the Celtics) had had to play a third game out here?” Riley said. “They would have been at each other’s throats.”

Complaint of the week: The Boston Garden cleaning crews, who griped because Riley made them leave the arena while the Lakers were practicing.

Shameless stunt of the week: Busty Hart, a stripper-turned-local-celebrity when she revealed her loyalty to the Celtics, reportedly plans to make a presentation to Jack Nicholson here Sunday: a bra made of two basketball halves.

Bob Ryan quiz question of the week: Who is the only player to have been cut by both NBA finalists this season?

Answer: Andre Turner.

Favorite headline of the week: Boston Herald, Friday: “C’s coast to Coast”

Boston Globe: “They coast to Coast”

Los Angeles Times: “Forcing Game 6, Celtics Go Coast to Coast on Lakers”