Miami Heat coach fined for criticizing refs

The NBA fined Miami coach Erik Spoelstra $25,000 for critical public comments on the officiating of the Heat's Eastern Conference second-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Spoelstra made the remarks following the shoot-around prior to Thursday's game six of the series, which the Heat won 105-93 to win the best-of-seven series four games to two. After a physical game five saw Heat reserves Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman suspended for flagrant fouls against Pacers players, Spoelstra had commented on Thursday morning on hits being taken by Miami stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. "The league does not have a problem with hard fouls on our two main guys," Spoelstra said, claiming there had been "over a dozen hard fouls to the face" against the duo by the Pacers in the series and in regular-season meetings. With Thursday night's victory, the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will face either Boston or Philadelphia for a berth in the NBA finals championship series. The Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in last season's NBA finals.