Nuggets coach David Adelman tossed in fourth-quarter loss to Rockets
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DENVER — Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman was ejected for the first time in his NBA career during Saturday night’s 115-101 defeat to the Houston Rockets at Ball Arena.
Official Tyler Ricks assessed Adelman a second technical foul and sent him off the court with 10:04 remaining, shortly after the coach stepped onto the floor to protest a non-call. Adelman had already received a technical in the first half.
“I was confused,” Adelman said after the game, citing what he believed were two soft early fouls on Nikola Jokic and a lack of whistles later in the contest. “I went out there looking for answers, and it turns out I had to leave.”
Denver trailed 80-72 at the moment of the ejection. Assistant coach Jared Dudley guided the team the rest of the way.
Background on Adelman’s tenure
Adelman replaced longtime coach Michael Malone with three games left in last season’s regular schedule and kept the job after steering Denver to the second round of the playoffs.
Officiating backdrop
Saturday’s game followed the NBA’s $25,000 fine of Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who had sharply criticized the referees after Houston’s 128-125 overtime loss to Denver on Monday. Adelman said he did not believe that incident influenced Saturday’s crew, calling lead referee Marc Davis “one of the best officials in the league.”
Durant, Brown exchange words
The matchup grew testy beyond the coaching box. Rockets star Kevin Durant and former teammate Bruce Brown exchanged verbal jabs after Brown’s third-quarter basket cut the margin to 69-62. As officials separated the two during a timeout, Durant appeared to shout, “You a bum!”
Durant later made the referee’s ejection gesture as Adelman walked off the floor. Brown said Durant’s comments were “disrespectful” and added, “I can’t wait to see him next time.” The teams do not meet again until March.
Brown, a noted hockey fan who donned a helmet while serving as a TV analyst during the Colorado Avalanche’s win over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, joked when asked about NHL influences: “I wish there was fighting.”
The Rockets controlled the fourth quarter after Adelman’s departure, handing Denver its second straight defeat.
Source: ESPN
