How Payton Pritchard reacted to the NBA’s hefty fine of Joe Mazzulla

The only thing holding Joe Mazzulla back after the final buzzer in Boston’s surprising loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night were two Celtics assistant coaches.

They had to restrain Mazzulla, who directed a fiery outburst at officials, before leaving the field. Mazzulla was upset by three technical fouls the Celtics received — he was assessed one of them — in the fourth quarter against the Bulls.

Mazzulla’s tirade resulted in him being fined $35,000 by the NBA on Saturday. Maybe getting hit hard in the wallet drew a similar reaction from the third-year head coach?

Probably not, according to Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard.

“Joe is competitive and we all enjoy that aspect of him,” Pritchard told reporters before the Celtics battled the Bulls in Chicago, according to CLNS Media’s Noa Dalzell. “Very competitive. He wants to win every moment, every game, every day and he instills that in all of us. So I’m sure he didn’t mind taking the fine.”

Mazzulla usually has a reason behind all his actions. So perhaps he served a step up after the game as a wake-up call for his team after an uninspiring performance. He certainly wouldn’t mind his competitive spirit rubbing off on his team. Mazzulla would see it as money well spent.

Mazzulla will have had plenty of time to cool off when the Celtics return to action Saturday night in a rematch against the Bulls in Chicago. Boston is looking to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.