Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla attacked the referees during and immediately after Thursday’s 117-108 loss to the visiting Chicago Bulls.
But in the postgame press conference, the reigning NBA champion took his foot off the accelerator. When asked why he chased officials at the final horn, prompting assistant coaches and security guards to restrain Mazzulla, the Rhode Island native offered some Christmas cheer.
“I just haven’t seen it in a while,” a sarcastic Mazzulla said of his message to an official. “So, just “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.”
“I wasn’t sure about going to see them before the holidays and I can’t let a moment go by when you don’t wish them, their loved ones and their families the best.”
The comments struck a dramatically different tone for Mazzulla, who seemed ready to fight moments before.
Boston led 86-82 before Chicago opened the fourth quarter on a 17-4 run to take a 99-90 lead, during which time both Mazzulla and several of his players were called for technical fouls.
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reacts after being called for a technical foul.
Joe Mazzulla is held back by assistant coach Sam Cassell (right) while reacting to a technical foul.
The Celtics scored six straight points before consecutive technicals were called on Mazzulla and Brown with 5:12 left after both protested a no-foul penalty while Brown was fighting for a loose ball. Instead, a jump ball was called.
Brown said he approached referee Justin Van Duyne for an explanation about Mazzulla’s technique, which Brown considered unjustified. Brown also eventually received a technical foul.
“I told (Van Duyne), ‘You called a coach for no reason.’ He said, ‘If you tell me again, I’ll call another coach,'” Brown said. “You can’t threaten guys with a technical foul, That’s not part of the game either. If you want to fine kids for making gestures and all that, that’s fine. That’s nonsense.
Mazzulla said Van Duyne told him his technique was from walking on the court after the jump. That was confirmed by an interview in the group report with crew chief Tony Brothers, who said Mazzulla’s technique was to leave the coach’s box and walk onto the court.
“The referee has to do his job when I was on the court and that’s it,” Mazzulla said.
The brothers said Brown’s technology was due to him “questioning our integrity several times during that same sequence.”
LaVine hit the next two free throws and then hit a 31-footer to put Chicago back in front 104-96. Later in the period, Tatum also suffered a technical, which helped extend the Bulls’ lead to 10.
Mazzulla remained agitated at the end of the match and attempted to approach Van Duyne by yelling in his direction. Mazzulla was restrained by two assistant coaches.