The NBA on Monday fined Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan $35,000 for public comments about the officiating following

in Game 1 on Saturday.

The fine came hours after McMillan on Monday scoffed at the notion that he could be fined for repeatedly pointing out the 19-2 free throw discrepency in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks’ victory.

“Yeah, I am surprised because I didn’t feel I directed it at the officials,’’ McMillan said. “But you have to move on and that’s what I want the players to do. I felt it had an effect on our guys and what we have to do is play through it. It’s going to happen, and the emotions, we have to play through that. So just as I tell the players they have to move on, I have to move on past it.’’

McMillan maintained on Monday that his postgame remarks were not a calculated move, but rather a reaction to questions that he felt were “baiting” him into talking about the officiating.

“I wasn’t trying to get fined,’’ McMillan said. “And I do respect these guys. I know they have a tough job.’’

Blazers forward Gerald Wallace said he appreciated McMillan sticking up for the team.

“I think he takes the heat for us,’’ Wallace said. “He knows what he has to do to protect.’’