Bobcats forward McRoberts hit with $20,000 fine

New York (AFP) - The National Basketball Association has fined Charlotte Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts $20,000 for his hard foul on Miami Heat's LeBron James in their playoff series.

McRoberts was initially handed a personal foul, but on review the league upgraded it to a flagrant two foul after it deemed that he made "unnecessary and excessive contact" when he elbowed James in the neck as the Heat superstar went up for a basket with 50 seconds remaining in the contest Wednesday.

The foul shook James, who made one-of-two foul shots to cap his 32-point night.

Miami held on for a 101-97 win to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.