Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been fined $15,000 by league office for his public criticism of officiating after Celtics' narrow loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.

The Celtics were ahead by three points entering the fourth quarter, but were overwhelmed by yet another offensive barrage from the Rockets, snapping their four-game win streak and adding to an already lengthy streak of 15 straight games for Houston.

Smart will be receiving this fine ironically on his birthday, as the now 24-year-old would try to seize an opportunity for extended playing time with the absence of Kyrie Irving in the near future.

Irving remains questionable against the Minnesota Timberwolves and could even miss the entire week as he deals with some knee soreness, but hasn't undergone an MRI scan.

The Celtics bounced right back from the loss against the Rockets with a decisive 105-89 win over the Chicago Bulls.

The Oklahoma State guard has four double-digit scoring games in the last six outings since coming back from a self-inflicted laceration right after the All-Star break and has provided a good spark off the bench.

Shane Larkin started in place of Irving against the Bulls, as Smart and Terry Rozier divvied up tasks in the backcourt, but were able to get some rest as they put the game out of hand in timely fashion.

Boston has two key games ahead, one against the Wolves on Thursday and another against the fourth-place Indiana Pacers on Sunday.