Mavs' Carlisle fined $25,000 for criticizing refs after loss
By Associated Press
Apr 25, 2015 2:09 PM CDT
Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle looks for a foul to be charged against the Houston Rockets in the second half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 24, 2015, in Dallas. The Rockets won 130-128. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)   (Associated Press)

DALLAS (AP) — Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was fined $25,000 on Saturday for criticizing officials after a loss to Houston that left Dallas trailing 3-0 in a first-round playoff series.

Carlisle came close to getting called for a technical foul several times during the Rockets' 130-128 win in Game 3 Friday night.

He was fined for comments afterward about a play early in the fourth quarter when Dwight Howard appeared to push Devin Harris out of bounds as they chased a loose ball. Howard grabbed the ball and passed to Trevor Ariza for a 3-pointer.

The Dallas coach said "there just a lot of physical stuff going on out there that just doesn't look kosher to me."

On Saturday, Carlisle said he accepted the fine but was "going to fight for my team."