NBA Adopts Tough Measures on Flagrant Fouls

NBA owners unanimously decided Thursday to impose harsher penalties this season against players who commit flagrant fouls, those defined as “unnecessary and/or excessive physical contact by a player against an opponent.”

If officials determine contact was excessive but not excessive enough for ejection, the team against whom the foul was committed would be awarded two free throws and possession. A foul determined to be excessively rough as well as potentially injurious would cost the offending player an ejection and a minimum $250.

Owners also adopted a method for determining home-court advantage for the NBA finals. The first tiebreaker will remain head-to-head records of the teams. The second tiebreaker will be records of Eastern Conference teams against Western teams.