Mavericks coach Carlisle fined $25K for criticizing officials

Rick Carlisle had to know this was coming.

The Dallas Mavericks coach was fined $25,000 on Saturday for public criticism of the officiating in Friday's Game 3 loss to the Houston Rockets.

Following Friday's 130-128 home loss, which put the Mavs on the brink of elimination, Carlisle expressed his frustration with the officiating in the series, particularly as it pertained to Rockets center Dwight Howard.

"There's too much physical stuff going on. Howard is throwing people all over the place, and that can't happen in Game 4," Carlisle exclaimed after detailing a sequence in which he believes Howard threw Mavericks guard Devin Harris into the bench area.

Carlisle and the Mavs will look to avoid a sweep when Game 4 tips off in Dallas on Sunday.