Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Thursday for confronting and verbally abusing referees after a game. The incident occurred at the conclusion of the Celtics' 129-120 over-time home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Smart was restrained by two coaches from approaching the officials as they walked off the court, yelling at the referees before being led off the floor in the opposite direction.
The amount of the fine reflects multiple prior violations of what the league called "acceptable on-court decorum."
Smart is averaging 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals a game for the Celtics, who at 42-19 are third in the Eastern Conference, one game behind second-place defending NBA champion Toronto.
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