Clippers’ Chris Paul fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing referee

Clippers point guard Chris Paul has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing a referee after the team’s 105-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

Rod Thorn, the NBA’s president of basketball operations, announced the fine Saturday. The $25,000 fine is the standard amount for the public criticism of an NBA official.

Paul criticized a call made by referee Lauren Holtkamp after the game, but later said his comments had nothing to do with Holtkamp being a woman.

“You know, last night was about a bad call, that’s all,� Paul said.

Paul received a technical foul from Holtkamp during the third quarter after the Clippers were too quick in attempting an in-bound pass after a free throw by the Cavaliers. Paul disagreed with the call, saying it was “ridiculous.�

“We’re trying to get the ball out fast every time down the court and when we did that she said, ‘Uh-uh,’ and I said, ‘Why uh-uh?’ and she gave me a tech and that’s ridiculous,� Paul said Thursday. “If that’s the case, then this might not be for her.�

The implication that Paul was criticizing Holtkamp’s refereeing because of her gender drew a rebuke from the NBA Referees Assn., which posted to its Twitter account that it “deplores the personal and unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul.�

The union also tweeted that Holtkamp’s calls during the game were “fully justified.�

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t think Paul’s comments were “a gender issue at all.�

“I don’t think the technical was warranted either, to be honest, but that’s not a gender issue,� Rivers said.

Times staff writer Ben Bolch contributed to this report.