Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was fined heftily for his conduct toward a referee during a game on Thursday.
The NBA announced on Saturday that Mazzulla was fined $35,000 for "aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language toward a game official" after the Celtics lost 108-117 to the Chicago Bulls. Once the buzzer sounded, Mazzulla went straight to the ref and could be seen yelling and pointing in anger.
Several members of the Celtics coaching staff and players held Mazzulla back as he continued to berate the ref, and he was eventually taken to the locker room. During the postgame conference, Mazzulla had a tongue-in-cheek response to the incident with the official.
"I hadn't seen him in a while. So, just a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday… can't let a moment go by where you don't wish the best to them and theirs," said Mazzulla.
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown received a $25,000 fine earlier this month for celebrating a poster dunk against the Pistons by mimicking a throat being slashed by gesturing his thumb over his throat. After that game, Brown said he knew the league wouldn't be happy with the celebration but acknowledged the huge moment he had over the Detroit Pistons.
"Big play," he continued. "I think that the NBA and the NBPA are sensitive about the gestures and things like that, so you've got to be mindful of that."