South East Melbourne guard Gary Browne has avoided an NBL suspension, despite being charged for the second time this season for striking.
The Phoenix import was on Sunday charged for punching Aron Baynes in the stomach after running into the hulking Brisbane centre's screen during Saturday's loss to the Bullets.
The incident was assessed as a one-game suspension, but Browne and the Phoenix have accepted an early guilty plea, which downgraded the penalty to a $1550 fine.
The panel deemed the incident as intentional, medium impact and low contact after Phoenix coach Mike Kelly described the act as "selfish" and "bone-headed".
It is Browne's second charge for striking this season, the guard copping a $1010 fine, reduced to $700 with an early guilty plea, for a hit on Adelaide's Tohi Smith-Milner that was deemed intentional, low contact and low impact.
Browne's availability to face Illawarra on January 5 is a boost for a Phoenix team clinging to a top-five spot with a 9-10 record.
