Celtics’ Rivers jokes about $15,000 fine

Published 3:56 pm Sunday, February 8, 2009

BOSTON — Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers brushed off his $15,000 fine for “verbal abuse of game officials,” but his wife was a little more concerned.

“She said make sure that doesn’t hurt me on Valentine’s Day,” Rivers said Sunday before Boston’s game against San Antonio.

The NBA fined Rivers $15,000 for his comments following the Boston Celtics’ 110-109 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. Rivers complained that Ray Allen was held in the final seconds, keeping him from getting off a clean shot.

The loss snapped Boston’s 12-game winning streak.