Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic is facing a hefty fine from the NBA after accusing the officials of bias in his side’s 132-131 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Serbian was furious after the Lakers were given 23 free throws in the final quarter, compared to the Raptors’ two, enabling the home side to claim a much-needed win.
Read our other sports stories here:
Steelers without Watt for Buffalo clash
Titans fire head coach Vrabel after six seasons in charge
Door still open for Wilson, insist Broncos
Rajakovic felt his players deserved more respect against the Lakers’ big-name line-up that contained the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
He said: “It’s outrageous. What happened tonight, this is completely BS.
“This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this. Twenty-three free throws for them, and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter? Like, how to play the game? I understand respect for All-Stars and all that, but we have star players on our team as well.
“How [is it] possible that Scottie Barnes, who is All-Star-calibre player in this league, he goes every single time to the rim with force and trying to get to the rim without flopping and not trying to get foul calls, he gets two free throws for a whole game?
“How is that possible? How are you going to explain that to me?”
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic didn’t hold back after their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers #BBCBasketball #NBA pic.twitter.com/HmDVtZXlco
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 10, 2024
Rajkovic, who slapped the table repeatedly throughout his rant, added: “They had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know, so we don’t show up for the game.
“Just give them a win. But that was not fair tonight. And this is not happening first time for us. Scottie Barnes is going to be [an] All-Star. He’s going to be the face of this league, and what’s happening over here during whole season … it’s complete c—-.”
Rajakovic’s counterpart Darvin Ham refused to get embroiled in the controversy, instead praising Davis who scored 41 points, including 10 in the final 61 seconds to carry his side to victory.
Ham said: “He was able to get a lot of touches, and guys were finding him.
“And his ability to get to the free-throw line and knock down free throws, it’s just a matter of reading the game and seeing how it’s going.”
