Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was fined $35,000 for “aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language toward a game official” Thursday night. Mazzulla received a technical foul for leaving the coach’s box and walking onto the floor during the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 117-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

The NBA announced on Saturday that Mazzulla was fined $35,000 for "aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language toward a game official" after the Celtics lost 108-117 to the Chicago Bulls. Once the buzzer sounded, Mazzulla went straight to the ref and could be seen yelling and pointing in anger.

Joe Mazzulla's Christmas greetings were costly. The NBA fined the Boston Celtics coach $35,000 on Saturday “for aggressively pursuing and directing inappropriate language toward a game official” at the end of his team's loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

Boston shot 25 percent from three on Thursday, and need a better showing on Saturday if they want to get a win.

The Chicago Bulls (13-15) welcome the Boston Celtics (21-6) to the United Center Saturday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Celtics vs. Bulls odds an

The Celtics will need to step up their defense (and hit more shots from 3) if they don't want to have their first losing streak of the season.