NEW YORK CITY (AFP) - Houston Rockets centre Dwight Howard was fined US$25,000 (S$31,000) by the NBA yesterday for tossing a ball into the stands in a match in Dallas that his team eventually lost.

Shortly after he was fouled with less than three minutes to play, he was heckled by a fan near the court during the Wednesday game.

He spun the ball towards the fan who swatted it back to the court.

The Rockets were leading 116-111 at the time.

Howard was assessed a technical foul and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki made the free throw.

The Mavericks went on to win 123-120 despite Howard's season-high 33 points and 11 rebounds for the visitors.