A day after describing the officiating in Saturday's game at Portland as "embarrassing for the league," Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy received a $15,000 fine for public criticism of referees.
The league announced the fine Sunday for Van Gundy's remarks, which were made following the Pistons' 100-87 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.
Although the Pistons shot two more free throws than the Blazers, attempting 20 to Portland's 18, Van Gundy argued that the Blazers "got away with fouls all over the place" and said the Pistons "got absolutely screwed."
"It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing for them and embarrassing for the league," Van Gundy said of Saturday's officiating. "I've been here for four years and many more years before that, and I've never come in after a game -- never, never come in after a game -- and talked like this. That was embarrassing. We got absolutely screwed tonight."
Van Gundy went so far as to itemize several plays he felt were improperly officiated.
"They held and grabbed on every play, and they got away with fouls all over the place. We got absolutely screwed all night," Van Gundy said. "Luke Kennard makes a back cut to the basket on an out-of-bounds play, gets knocked down, they end up with two points on the other end. Blake Griffin has two straight drives in the fourth that he gets hammered on. He gets screwed twice."
Asked if he was given any explanation about one of the calls, Van Gundy said he got an excuse with which he wasn't happy.
"Yeah, 'If I saw it, I would have called it.' Well you know what? Your damn job is to see it. ... Why the hell do we have you out there?" he said.
The Pistons, who have lost eight of their past 10 games, continue their six-game road trip Monday night against the Sacramento Kings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
