Rivers was fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officials, the NBA announced Thursday. After Kevin Garnett was whistled for five fouls in the Celtics’ 87-71 loss to the Knicks, Rivers called the fouls “horrendous” before backpedaling a day later.
“I’ve got to make sure I focus on our stuff,” Rivers said Wednesday in a conference call. “That’s not criticizing the officials. If you [reporters] see it, then you say it.”
The Celtics host the Knicks at TD Garden on Friday, trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.