Lakers coach Jackson fined $25,000

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Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for criticizing officials. The fine was announced by Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations. Jackson was upset with how referees handled second-year center Andrew Bynum in Friday's 114-108 loss at Utah. He was quoted in several newspapers questioning officials Derrick Stafford, Derek Richardson and Leroy Richardson. On Saturday, Jackson was quoted in the Los Angeles Times saying the league "throws out some referee corps that you're dubious about to start with, and you know, the game ends up like that." Jackson drew a $50,000 fine following a game in Utah in March 2004 for saying referee Bob Delaney was "prejudiced" against Shaquille O'Neal after the former Lakers center was ejected following two hard fouls in an 88-83 loss