Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Saturday “for aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language towards a recreation official” on the finish of his crew’s 117-108 house loss to the Chicago Bulls at TD Backyard on Thursday evening.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla lashed out at referee Justin Van Duyne after crew was referred to as for 3 technical fouls
Mazzulla’s outburst adopted Boston getting referred to as for 3 technical fouls within the fourth quarter — one every for him, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum.
When time expired, Mazzulla appeared to have directed some harsh phrases towards referee Justin Van Duyne. Throughout his postgame interview, Mazzulla mentioned he was simply making an attempt to unfold vacation cheer to the referee crew.
“I simply hadn’t seen them shortly, so only a merry Christmas, joyful holidays, wasn’t certain I used to be going to see them earlier than the vacation,” mentioned Mazzulla. “I simply can’t let a second go by the place you want somebody simply one of the best to them and theirs and their households.”
The next has been launched by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/bSbo09bI1V
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 21, 2024
Nevertheless, video of the change options something however a cheerful dialog.
NBA crew chief Tony Brothers mentioned after the sport that Brown obtained his technical for questioning the integrity of an official. Tatum obtained his technical for “an overt motion in direction of an official,” Brothers added.
Jaylen Brown mentioned Van Duyne referred to as a technical on him and Mazzulla for no motive in any way
Moreover, Brown mentioned Van Duyne referred to as him for a technical for no motive and that Mazzulla “didn’t say something” that will have warranted a technical.
“I obtained fined a pair weeks in the past for inadvertent gestures which can be decided to not be part of the sport, which was positive,” Brown mentioned. “I took the positive. However what a part of the sport is a ref calling an inadvertent technical foul? I mentioned to him, ‘You referred to as a tech for no motive.’ He mentioned, ‘In case you say it to me once more, I’m gonna name one other tech.’
“[I said again], ‘You referred to as a tech for no motive.’ Then he referred to as the tech. Like, man, get out of right here. You possibly can’t threaten guys with a technical foul. That’s not a part of the sport both. You need to positive folks for gestures and all these items? High-quality that. Like, that’s some bulls—t.”
The Celtics (21-6) will now look to get their revenge on the Bulls (13-15) on Saturday in Chicago. Within the first matchup of the regular-season collection, Boston received 138-129 over Chicago at United Heart on Nov. 29.
Per ESPN’s Basketball Energy Index, the C’s have a 70% likelihood to defeat the Bulls on the highway. In fact, NBA betting websites present Boston as a 12.5-point favourite. The Celtics are 10-2 away for the season.