Celtics' Mazzulla fined $35K for postgame outburst at ref
The NBA announced Saturday it fined Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla $35,000 for "aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language" toward a referee.
The incident occurred Thursday following the Celtics' 117-108 defeat to the Chicago Bulls.
Mazzulla approached midcourt after the final buzzer and had some words for referee Justin Van Duyne, who had assessed Mazzulla a technical foul in the fourth quarter.
The 36-year-old needed to be held back by his coaching staff and was subsequently escorted to the locker room.
Joe Mazzulla was heated at a ref at the end of the Celtics game pic.twitter.com/HGEb7SBCnV
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) December 20, 2024
Mazzulla jokingly said postgame he only wanted to wish the official a Merry Christmas.
Joe Mazzulla explains why he was trying to get to the referee after the game:
— Savage (@SavageSports_) December 20, 2024
“Just trying to wish them a Merry Christmas, happy holidays”
😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iHsjuBNz2k
Van Duyne also gave a tech to Jaylen Brown in the fourth quarter. The Celtics star said it was "bullshit" that an official threatened him with a technical foul before ultimately giving it.