(Los Angeles) Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was fined US$25,000 ($33,500) for publicly criticizing NBA officiating.
Rajakovic received his sanction after making a violent outing following the Raptors’ 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
The head coach was angry because the referees awarded 23 free throws to the Lakers in the fourth quarter compared to only two to the Raptors.
Rajakovic said the disparity in calls was “outrageous” and that the referees and the NBA should be ashamed of what happened.
Prior to the game, the Raptors lost starting center Jakob Poeltl to a sprained ankle, putting the team at a disadvantage in the bottle.
Toronto lost starting center Jakob Poeltl to a sprained ankle before the game, putting them shorthanded in the paint.
Lakers center Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, while hitting all 11 of his attempts at the free throw line.
Davis made 14 of 36 Lakers free throws during the matchup. The entire Raptors lineup only made 13 free throws.