Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle fined $25,000 for criticizing refs

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $25,000 for his public criticism of officials after Friday's 130-128 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle has been fined $25,000 for his public criticism of officials after Friday's 130-128 loss to the Houston Rockets, the league announced Saturday.

After the game, Carlisle complained about a no-call early in the fourth quarter, and then discussed the physicality of the series, which has been dominated by the Rockets. The play in question came after Houston's Dwight Howard sent Dallas guard Devin Harris out of bounds while battling for a rebound. 

The Mavericks trail the Rockets three games to none heading into Sunday's Game 4 in Dallas.

“My hope is that in Game 4 — the one play that’s kind of an image stuck in my mind, and I just looked at it six times on the film, is the first play of the fourth quarter,” Carlisle said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “We’re scrambling like hell defensively, and Devin Harris is going to get the ball, and Dwight Howard throws him into our bench.”

“That stuff’s got to stop,” Carlisle added. “The officials [have] got to get that stuff under control, because there’s too much physical stuff going on. Howard is throwing people all over the place. And that can’t happen in Game 4.”

“They’re a more physical team,” Carlisle said, “but this series has got to be played within the rules."

Houston and Dallas meet in Game 4 Sunday night at 9:30 ET.

- Jeremy Woo