NEW YORK -- The NBA will fine players $5,000 for a first flopping offense during the playoffs.

The league issued players a warning for a first offense during the regular season, the first time it punished players for trying to fool referees into making calls by exaggerating contact.

The league says Thursday that there were 24 violations during the regular season, with five players getting a $5,000 fine for violating the anti-flopping rule twice.

A second offense in the postseason will bring a $10,000 fine, which increases to $15,000 for a third and $30,000 for a fourth. A player could be suspended if he is ruled to have flopped five or more times.

The NBA defines flopping as "any physical act that appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player."