NEW YORK — LeBron James has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for kicking a water bottle during Cleveland’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The announcement was made Thursday by Stu Jackson, the league’s executive vice president of basketball operations.

The NBA says James kicked a water bottle with 12.4 seconds left in the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ 109-95 win Wednesday night. Last year’s league MVP, James was rested for the entire fourth quarter as Cleveland protected a big lead. He finished with 12 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in 31 minutes.

James is averaging 29.6 points per game, second in the NBA to Denver’s Carmelo Anthony (29.7). The Cavaliers have the league’s best record at 36-11.