Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Fined $35,000 for Postgame Referee Confrontation
Joe Mazzulla faced a hefty fine after confronting a referee following the Celtics’ loss to the Bulls, highlighting his frustration with officiating.
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, NBA, Referee, Fine
Boston: So, Joe Mazzulla really lost his cool after the Celtics’ game against the Bulls. The Celtics were feeling pretty down after a 117-108 loss, and Mazzulla was especially frustrated with the refs.
After the game, he went after a referee, which got him a $35,000 fine for “aggressively pursuing” the official. The league made the announcement on Saturday. He already had a technical foul during the game, and it seems like he just couldn’t hold back his feelings.
There was a moment when Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown argued about a loose ball that turned into a jump ball. They thought Brown should have been involved, but the refs didn’t see it that way. It led to some heated discussions, but thankfully, he didn’t get suspended.
When asked about his outburst, Mazzulla had a funny response. He said he just wanted to wish the ref a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Classic Mazzulla, right?
But honestly, the officiating wasn’t the main reason the Celtics lost. They really struggled with their shooting, hitting only 25% of their 3-pointers. When you rely on the three-ball like they do, some nights are just going to be rough.