Clippers' Chris Paul fined $25K for public criticism of officiating

Chris Paul has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for public criticism of officiating following the Clippers' 105-94 loss to the Cavaliers on Thursday.

Paul criticized rookie NBA referee Lauren Holtkamp after receiving a technical foul, and after the Clippers received five technical fouls in all that night. The Clippers were hit with four technical fouls in the third quarter alone, and three in a 52-second span. Paul received his technical after Holtkamp stepped in as the team was attempting to inbound the ball and the guard questioned her.

"The tech I got was ridiculous," Paul said of the officiating following the game. "That's terrible. There's no way that can be a technical. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court. When we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh.' I said, 'Why uh-uh?' and she gave me a technical. That's ridiculous. If that's the case, this might not be for her."