Doc Rivers Fined for Criticizing Referees, Calling Fouls on Kevin Garnett in Game 2 ‘Horrendous’

Nobody in green was on very good terms with the officials after Tuesday’s Game 2 in New York, and now Celtics coach Doc Rivers will see a deduction in his next paycheck.

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.