Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was fined $35,000 for “aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language toward a game official” Thursday night.
Mazzulla received a technical foul for leaving the coach’s box and walking onto the floor during the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 117-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
When the final buzzer sounded, Mazzulla tried to approach referee Justin Van Duyne and had to be restrained by Celtics assistant coaches.
Afterward, while speaking to reporters, Mazzulla wryly explained his rationale.
“I just hadn’t seen them in a while, so just a Merry Christmas, happy holidays,” Mazzulla said with a straight face.