San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan was hit with a hefty fine by the NBA after he let his temper get the best of him during a playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.

DeRozan will have to pay $25,000 after he threw a basketball at a referee in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 117-103 defeat to the Nuggets in Game 4 in the Western Conference first round.

The four-time All-Star appeared angry after referee Scott Foster whistled him for an offensive foul against Denver's Gary Harris.

DeRozan chucked the ball into Foster's vicinity, which ended up in the stands.

The 29-year-old was ejected with five minutes remaining in the game as the Nuggets levelled the series at 2-2.

"Frustration," DeRozan later described the incident after the game. "I thought it was a bad call. Combination of both."

DeRozan finished the night with 19 points, five assists and five rebounds.