Toronto Raptors general served hefty fine for pregame expletive

The NBA has fined the Toronto Raptors $25,000 and general manager Masai Ujiri $35,000 for the latter's use of obscene language in a public setting when addressing fans before the team's Eastern Conference first-round play-off opener on Saturday.

Ujiri was docked by the NBA on Sunday after the Raptors GM responded to comments made by Wizards veteran Paul Pierce during a pre-game rally a day prior.

Earlier this week, Pierce told ESPN that Toronto lacks an "it" factor that other teams possess.

"We haven't done particularly well against Toronto, but I don't feel they have the 'it' that makes you worried," Pierce said.

"There isn't a team I look at in the Eastern Conference that makes me say, 'They are intimidating; we don't have a chance.'"

In response, Ujiri declared, "People want me to say something about Paul Pierce, but we don't give a s about 'it.'"

Despite the loud boos that echoed throughout Air Canada Centre, Pierce scored 20 points in the Wizards' 93-86 overtime win.

Nearly one year ago to the day, Ujiri was fined $25,000 by the league after shouting "[expletive] Brooklyn" before game 1 of the Brooklyn Nets versus Raptors play-off series.