MIAMI -- Pat Riley, fined by the NBA for the second time this season Tuesday, joked that his complaints about officials have taken a toll on his wife and daughter.

How much?

"About three trips to Saks Fifth Avenue, so enough's enough,'' Riley said. "I may have to bite my tongue.''

The Miami Heat coach was fined $20,000 Tuesday for criticizing the officials following a loss to Portland last week. He was hit with a $50,000 fine in December.

Riley admitted that his complaints reflect the frustration of coaching a team that's last in the Atlantic Division.

"I absolutely hate losing,'' he said. "I despise it. I do everything I can not to lose. So anybody who's got any brains at all knows that if you're somebody who hates to lose, and you're losing, that somewhere you get frustrated. ...

"But I'm not complaining. I'm just fighting as much as I can to get what I can get.''

In the wake of NBA commissioner David Stern's warning last week that he has had enough of gripes about referees, Riley said he wasn't surprised by the latest fine.

"I understand what it is, and you accept it,'' Riley said. "It reminds of me of my favorite quote from Winston Churchill: `I may not be the lion, but it is left to me to give the lion's roar.' And that is what David Stern did. Every time he does this, it reminds me of that quote, because he does. He's got the loudest voice, a very effective voice.''

Following the Heat's 101-87 loss to Portland on Feb. 5, Riley complained of "an absolute officiating tragedy.''

"I thought I was at the comedy store watching some kind of comedian out there laughing with the Blazers, and talking to them, and smiling with them,'' Riley said then. "It was so unprofessional.''

Heat players said they appreciate Riley making a financial sacrifice on their behalf.

"He's out there fighting for us,'' forward Caron Butler said. "You like to see that even when you're down and not doing so well. Coach is still working hard and battling for us.''