Noah and Pierce fined, 4 Wizards suspended after feisty preseason game

It was a mere preseason opener, but the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls picked up where they left off last postseason when the two teams met on Monday evening in Chicago.

There were multiple hard fouls and shoving matches throughout the contest, but none more heated than when new Wizard Paul Pierce made his presence felt by nearly clotheslining Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler, then proceeding to poke Joakim Noah in the head during the ensuing skirmish (read the story stack below).

The NBA announced on Wednesday that four Wizards have been suspended one regular-season game for leaving the bench during the shoving match, while Noah and Pierce have been fined $15,000 each.

Noah has been fined "for initiating an altercation with Pierce by pushing him in the chest," according to the NBA's press release. Pierce has been fined "for hitting Noah in the forehead with his left index finger."

Nene, DeJuan Blair, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas have been suspended for Washington. The Wizards' season opener is Oct. 29 against the Miami Heat, which could be a key early season battle between the two teams expected to compete for the Southeast Division crown.