DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson was fined
$10,000 by the NBA on Monday for his postgame exchange of words
with official Joey Crawford following a loss to the Houston Rockets
in Game 1 of their playoff series.
Johnson began berating Crawford in the final minutes of
Saturday's game, which Houston won 98-86. When time expired,
Johnson had a few more things to say as he walked off the court.
Crawford laughed as he walked off in the other direction and
Johnson came back at him. A Rockets security official helped pry
Johnson away.
The punishment was described as being for "failing to leave the
court in a timely manner."