Phoenix Suns trying to hold tongue after NBA fined Monty Williams $15K for criticizing Game 4 officiating

JaVale McGee and Mikal Bridges weren't trying to get caught up after Tuesday's morning shootaround.

Monty Williams declined to dig any further into that subject matter before and after Game 5 at Footprint Center.

And it had to have been on Chris Paul's mind when asked about a technical he received from referee David Guthrie with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter of Phoenix's 112-97 win over the Pelicans to give the Suns a 3-2 series lead.

"Without getting fined?" a smiling Paul said.

With Williams being fined $15,000 for public criticism of the officiating after Sunday's Game 4 loss as it relates to New Orleans going 32-of-42 from the line while the Phoenix was just 10-of-15, the Suns made a point not to say anything crazy about the officiating.

Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans. If the Pelicans win, Game 7 is set for Saturday back in Phoenix.

Game 5 recap: Suns defeat Pelicans to take 3-2 series lead

Tuesday morning: JaVale McGee

Q: You feel like it was necessary for him to speak his mind the way he did after the game and maybe send a message about how the officiating is going?

JM: "It's definitely necessary, man. It's definitely necessary. Everybody sees what's going on out there. I ain't trying to get fined, so I ain't going to speak on it."

Q: A quick follow. Just seeing your coach take that approach. How good does it make the guys feel?

JM: "It makes you feel amazing. Just having a voice out there for us cause clearly we can't say it. If we say it, it's $50,000. It's great having him say it."

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Tuesday morning: Mikal Bridges

Q: Mikal, when you look at Monty getting the $15,000, is that well worth it for him to speak his mind?

MB: "Yeah, just getting his words across, but I'll save that for Monty. I don't want to talk about what he's talking about, but I agree with him."

Q: How big is it for the players knowing your Coach's speaking for you?

MB: "For sure. Just easy for us to just out there and hoop and not talk to them. We appreciate Mont, the things he's doing, things he's doing like that with the refs. Just letting him handle it and we just go out there and play."

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Pregame: Monty Williams

Q: Hey Monty, how are you?

MW: Good. How are you?

Q: Good.

MW: "I'm lighter in my pocket, but I'm good."

Q: Speaking of that, you weren't surprised by the fine right?

MW: "Nah, it's behind me. There's nothing you can do about it. It's a part of our game. I wasn't surprised by it."

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Q: Is this part of playoff basketball?

(Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins was fined $15,000 for the same thing after Memphis lost Game 4 Saturday to Minnesota).

MW: Nah. I don't play that game. It was, for me, saying what I had to say and speaking the truth. I wasn't disrespectful, in my opinion, but it's behind me. It was over with yesterday. I talked to the league. You do your whole deal with them. They're respectful and they do get your money in a respectful way, but it's over with. It's behind me.

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Postgame: Monty Williams

Q: (Pelicans) outscored (Suns) by 12 at the free-throw line again. Is it more of just the same or just a different setup circumstance tonight?

(New Orleans shot 28-of-35 to Phoenix going 16-of-20 in Game 5)

MW: "That's a softball. I'm not even touching that. No way. My family will be on my tail if I touch that one. I'm already in trouble. Free throws are fine with me. We got the win. Is that my last question?"

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Postgame: Chris Paul

Q: Chris, it's not like you to get a technical foul at that point in the game. Can you take us through what happened in the fourth quarter?

CP: Without getting fined?

Q: Yeah, preferably.

CP: This stuff is getting ridiculous, man. I thought I got across (to avoid an 8-second backcourt violation being defended by Pelicans rookie Jose Alvarado). Sort of like that play that happened in New Orleans. And I literally looked at the scores table cause we're at home and I said, 'Come on' to the scores table and he gave me a tech. Put that on everything."

Q: Cause you said something to the scores table and not him?

CP: I don't know what his (pause, laughs). I don't know, man."

Q: So the official basically misunderstood that you were talking to them and not talking to him?

CP: I don't know, but even if I am, if I say, 'Come on,' is that a tech? Come on man."

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Paul then stopped and literally cautioned himself for what he was saying.

CP: "Oh, don't let me say that again (laughs). It's out of control. That's ridiculous, but it is what it is. We try not to get fourth-quarter techs on our team. That's a big deal. That's a big deal and it's something Coach harps on all the time. No fourth-quarter techs. To get one for that? I've been in the league long enough, they'll give you your money back like that. Give us the points back."

Read more: Suns look to end series vs. Pelicans after taking 3-2 lead

Brandon Ingram missed the technical free throw and Pelicans rookie Herbert Jones turned the ball over on the ensuing possession.

So New Orleans came up empty on that possession, but will Paul end up getting fined for his postgame comments after Game 5?

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Will Chris Paul get fined for postgame comments about technical foul?