NEW YORK -- The NBA announced Monday it has reinstated referee Joey Crawford five months after he was suspended indefinitely for improper on-court conduct.

Crawford ejected San Antonio Spurs star forward Tim Duncan late in a game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 15 while Duncan was on the bench. The Spurs center was laughing, apparently about a call Crawford had made, causing the official to give him with a second technical foul.

Duncan had earned a technical earlier in the game, also from the bench, after apparently having some choice words for Crawford after a call. The Spurs star claimed after the game that Crawford challenged him to a fight during the game.

The NBA suspended Crawford indefinitely and fined Duncan $25,000 on April 17.

"Based on my meeting with Joey Crawford, his commitment to an ongoing counseling program, and a favorable professional evaluation that was performed at my direction, I am satisfied that Joey understands the standards of game management and professionalism the NBA expects from him and that he will be able to conduct himself in accordance with those standards," said NBA commissioner David Stern.

Crawford has more than 30 years of NBA officiating experience.