Celtics' Smart fined $15K for saying refs favored Giannis

Being inside the NBA bubble does not protect players from the league fining them when they publicly criticize officiating.

The NBA fined Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart $15,000 for suggesting officials were playing favorites with Giannis Antetokoumpo during Friday night's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the league announced.

With the game tied late in the fourth quarter, Smart drew a charge on Antetokounmpo, which would have fouled the reigning league MVP out of the game. However, upon review, officials overturned the call.

"They said, the replay center said that I was late and it was a block," Smart explained afterward. "Quite frankly, I think we all know what that was about: Giannis' sixth foul and they didn't want to get him out. Let's just call that spade a spade. And that's just what it is."