Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers did not mince words when discussing the officiating in his team’s 101-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
“I don’t say much about officiating,” Rivers said to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “They shot 41 3s, we shot 18. We doubled them in the amount of points in the paint. And it was 24-8 in free throws. That’s a joke. That’s a complete joke.” Houston actually had a 23-8 edge in free throws, but the point from Rivers comes across regardless.
“I thought our guys drove and got hit all game,” Rivers said. “Lou [Williams] down the stretch got killed on a play and no call. Austin [Rivers] gets hit and no call. DJ [DeAndre Jordan] gets fouled over the back.”
“I haven’t [complained about officiating] all year. Our guys played their hearts out. But for them to shoot that many more free throws than us, and we’re the team attacking, it just doesn’t make basketball sense to me. It is what it is, and we have to move on.”
Turns out, the NBA did not like Rivers’ comments. They slapped him with a $15,000 fine on Friday, via NBA Executive of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe.
Doc Rivers fined $15,000 for his comments about the officiating following the Clippers loss to the Rockets last night. pic.twitter.com/bwmc05v9rm
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) March 16, 2018
This is not the first time Doc Rivers has complained about officiating. In fact, he recently complained about officials back in January against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
