LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) –Lakers center Dwight Howard was fined $35,000 by the NBA for the flagrant foul he committed against Denver’s Kenneth Faried.

Howard was ejected with 5:02 left in the third quarter Wednesday for jamming both his hands to Faried’s face. Lakers allowed 126 points in loss to Nuggets.

“I was surprised it was a flagrant 2,” he said. “My intention was never to hurt Faried. I like the young fellow and my intention was just to foul. I come down the lane, somebody is going to foul me hard, put me on the free throw line and make me shoot free throws. It was the same kind of thing.”

NBA’s Executive Vice President for basketball operations Stu Jackson made the announcement Thursday afternoon.