SIDELINES : NBA Fines Players $10,500

Phoenix Suns guard Mike McGee was fined $3,000 for smacking New Jersey’s Purvis Short in the back of the head, the NBA said today in announcing seven player fines totaling $10,500.

McGee was fined for his part in a brief fight with Short on March 30. Short was fined $1,000 for initiating the fight by throwing an elbow, the NBA said. The NBA said McGee, a former Net, received the larger fine because of the way he retaliated.

In addition, Denver guard Todd Lichti and Seattle forward Xavier McDaniel were fined $1,500 apiece for fighting in a game at Denver on April 6.

Charles Barkley of Philadelphia and Charles Oakley of New York were fined $1,500 apiece, and Patrick Ewing of the Knicks got a $500 fine for fighting on April 6 at New York.