The NBA has fined Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard $35,000 as a result of his flagrant type 2 foul on Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried on Wednesday.

Howard was ejected in the third quarter of an eventual Lakers loss when he struck a blow to the head of a driving Faried and sent him to the hardwood.

The NBA indicated the foul was "excessive contact" above the shoulders.

Through 29 games in his first season in Los Angeles, Howard's numbers are slightly down, with the 6-foot-11 center averaging 17.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest.