DALLAS (AP) Mavericks coach Don Nelson was fined $7,500 by the NBA on Saturday for publicly criticizing officials.

The fine was levied by Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations.

Nelson had questioned how Danny Fortson might be affected by referees watching him differently after his three-game suspension for a flagrant foul against Zarko Cabarkapa of Phoenix. The coach said Eduardo Najera is still being treated differently since a one-game suspension last February for bumping an official.