Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla went after the refs both during and immediately after Thursday’s 117-108 loss to the visiting Chicago Bulls.
But in the post-game press conference, the reigning NBA champion took his foot off the gas. Asked why he chased down officials at the final horn, prompting assistant coaches and security guards to restrain Mazzulla, the Rhode Island native offered some holiday cheer.
‘I just hadn’t seen him in a while,’ a sarcastic Mazzulla said of his message to one official. ‘So, just a ”Merry Christmas and a happy holiday.”
‘I wasn’t sure I was going to see them before the holiday and I just can’t let a moment go by where you don’t wish the best to them and theirs and their families.’
The comments struck a dramatically different tone for Mazzulla, who looked ready to fight only moments earlier.
Boston had led 86-82 before Chicago opened the final period with a 17-4 run to take a 99-90 advantage, during which time both Mazzulla and several of his players were whistled for technical fouls.
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reacts after called for a technical foul
Joe Mazzulla is held back by assistant coach Sam Cassell (right) as he reacts to technical foul
The Celtics scored six straight points before consecutive techs were called on Mazzulla and Brown with 5:12 left to play after both protested a non-foul call as Brown scrambled for a loose ball. A jump ball was called instead.
Brown said he approached referee Justin Van Duyne to get an explanation on Mazzulla’s tech, which Brown felt was unwarranted. Brown was eventually whistled for a technical as well.
‘I said to (Van Duyne), ‘You called a tech for no reason.’ He said, ‘If you say to it me again, I’m going to call another tech,’ Brown said. ‘You can’t threaten guys with a technical foul, that’s not part of the game either. If you want to fine guys for gesturing and all that stuff – fine that. That’s some bulls***.’
Mazzulla said he was told by Van Duyne that his technical was for walking on the court after the jump ball call. That was confirmed by a pool report interview with crew chief Tony Brothers, who said Mazzulla’s tech was for leaving the coach’s box and walking onto the floor.
‘Ref’s got to do his job when I was on the court and that’s it,’ Mazzulla said.
Brothers said Brown’s tech was because, ‘He questioned our integrity multiple times during that same sequence.’
LaVine connected on both ensuing free throws, then hit a 31-footer to put Chicago back in front 104-96. Later in the period, Tatum picked up a technical as well, that helped extend the Bulls’ lead to 10.
Mazzulla remained agitated at the end of the game and tried to approach Van Duyne, shouting in his direction. Mazzulla was restrained by two assistant coaches.
