Ime Udoka Penalized $25K for Public Criticism of Officials
ime-udoka-penalized-25k-for-public-criticism-of-officials
The NBA has issued a $25,000 fine to Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka for publicly denouncing the officiating crew that worked Monday’s overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, according to a league announcement released on Thursday.
Following the 117-114 defeat at Ball Arena, Udoka told reporters it was “the most poorly officiated game I’ve seen in a long time,” adding that two referees “had no business being out there” and that the crew chief “was acting star-struck.”
The Nuggets were called for 28 fouls compared with the Rockets’ 25, but the league’s Last Two Minute Report identified three incorrect decisions in the closing moments of regulation and overtime—each favoring Denver.
• With 1:40 left in overtime, Rockets forward Kevin Durant was mistakenly called for a foul on Nikola Jokić.
• At the 1:08 mark, Nuggets wing Tim Hardaway Jr. should have been whistled for a loose-ball foul on Alperen Şengün.
• With 47 seconds remaining, officials wrongly assessed a foul on Rockets guard Amen Thompson.
Those disputed whistles led to four successful free throws by Jokić and Jamal Murray, providing the margin in Denver’s three-point win.
Source: Hoops Rumors
