The Los Angeles Clippers lost their third straight game on Tuesday, this time to the lowly Brooklyn Nets. After a promising start to the year, this slight slump has been a bit disappointing. It may have also led to Doc Rivers’ flared temper.
In the first overtime period of an eventual double-OT thriller, Rivers received a technical foul. That led to the Clippers head coach becoming angrier than Chris Paul when someone rubs his head.
Rivers began to yell at the official (Ken Mauer) and had to be restrained by DeAndre Jordan, Sam Cassell, and other members of the Clippers and their coaching staff. He was eventually assessed a second technical foul and ejected from the game.
#Clippers coach Doc Rivers lost it after getting ejected in overtime. pic.twitter.com/ODPk0gNhZs
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) November 30, 2016
After the game, Rivers had the following to say:
Doc Rivers on the late-game techs pic.twitter.com/AXB0F6RgYT
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) November 30, 2016
As Rivers predicted, Mauer did claim the first technical was for crossing half-court:
And here's Ken Mauer to pool reporter @briancmahoney pic.twitter.com/7QIJjr2nEH
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) November 30, 2016
This will be an interesting case for the league office. Doc Rivers clearly didn’t believe he deserved that technical but it’s hard to see the league office disagreeing with its officials in this instance. Doc should expect at least a hefty fine.