NEW YORK — The NBA has levied a $25,000 fine against Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka for publicly disparaging the officiating crew following the team’s 128-125 overtime defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, the league announced Wednesday.
During his postgame news conference, Udoka labeled the contest “the most poorly officiated” game he had seen “in a long time” and directed criticism at all three officials. He asserted that “two” referees “have no business being out there” while alleging that crew chief Zach Zarba appeared “starstruck.”
The penalty was issued two days after the NBA released its Last Two Minute Report, which cited three incorrect overtime calls — each benefiting Denver. According to the report, officials failed to whistle a foul on Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. and wrongly assessed fouls against Houston’s Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant. The calls on Thompson and Durant resulted in four free throws; Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray converted both of their attempts, stretching Denver’s edge to 128-122 with 47.2 seconds remaining.
Jokic finished with his 12th triple-double of the season, helping the Nuggets secure their fifth straight victory.
Source: ESPN
