NBA fines Celtics Coach Doc Rivers

The NBA has fined Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers $15,000 for verbally abusing officials Thursday during a 110-109 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston’s Ray Allen had his potential game-winning jumper in the closing seconds of the extra session altered by the Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher, who appeared to hand-check Allen before his shot went awry, securing LA’s victory.

Rivers also was angered because all-star forward Kevin Garnett had fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

I thought in the third and fourth quarter the game got out of control, Rivers told the Boston Herald after the contest. And I thought the officials allowed it to get out of control. I just thought there was a lot of chippiness.

The Lakers took 29 foul shots to 20 for the Celtics in a physical, tightly played game between the longtime rivals.