NBA: Technical fouls just became more painful

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Technical fouls may soon hurt the aggressor more than the recipient.

The NBA has made the penalty for technical fouls twice as expensive this season and, in an attempt to mitigate complaining about calls, the league intends to have referees call technicals for overt gestures, such as punching the air in anger.

Players and coaches will be docked $2,000 for each of their first five technical fouls, $3,000 for the next five and $4,000 for Nos. 11-15. Starting at 16, players will be suspended one game for every two technicals, along with $5,000 for each.

-- Melissa Rohlin