NBA: Clippers coach Rivers fined $15,000 for outburst

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a Clipper foul during a 100-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on December 21, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and condition of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 21: Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a Clipper foul during a 100-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on December 21, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has been fined $15,000 following his angry outburst towards a game official, the NBA announced on Thursday.

Rivers needed to be restrained by Clippers players after being ejected during his team’s 127-122 double-overtime defeat to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.

Rivers later said he had been incensed by a technical foul against him.

“The official, who had nothing to do with the play, thought I was yelling at (referee) Lauren (Holtkamp) and I wasn’t,” Rivers said.

“We weren’t. She said I was right and let’s walk back. We weren’t even arguing. It was the damndest tech to give at that time.”

Crew chief Ken Mauer later said Rivers had been penalised for crossing over midcourt. He was ejected after receiving a second technical foul for “behavior and language.”

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