LOS ANGELES Following a 132-131 victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers made 23 free throws in the fourth quarter, prompting Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic to go on an irrational and violent diatribe against the officials.
The game’s free throw discrepancy was criticized by Rajakovic, Toronto’s first-year Serbian head coach, after Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and went 11-for-11 from the free throw line in the final frame.
Of the 36 free throws the Lakers made during the game, Davis made 14 of them, while the entire Toronto team only made 13.
It’s absurd. What transpired this evening is just absurd, declared Rajakovic. “It’s shameful. Disgrace to the umpires. It’s a shame the league let this happen. They get twenty-three free throws, and in the fourth quarter, we only get two? For example, how do I play the game? I get that All-Stars should be respected, and all that, but our team also features star players.
“How (is it) possible that Scottie Barnes, an All-Star player in this league, only gets two free throws during a whole game despite going to the rim repeatedly with force, trying to get there without stumbling, and not trying to draw fouls?” Rajakovic continued, repeatedly slamming the table to emphasize his point. “How is that even possible? How will you explain that to me, please?
With the Lakers down the stretch against the Raptors—who were without injured starting big Jakob Poeltl—Davis pulled down 11 rebounds and shot 13 of 17 points.
In the last 1:01, Davis finished off his outstanding effort with 10 points, including a crucial block of Barnes and eight consecutive free throws made without a miss.
Rajakovic reportedly thought his squad was never given a chance by the referees.
Had they won tonight? Please inform us if that is the case so we won’t attend the game, Rajakovic remarked.
Just hand them the victory. But tonight, that was unfair. We are not experiencing this for the first time. Scottie Barnes will be an All-Star in the future. He will represent this league, and everything that goes on here for the entire season is total garbage.
The Raptors, who acquired RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from the Knicks in exchange for OG Anunoby, lost for just the second time in five games despite having 26 points from Barnes and 25 from Pascal Siakam.
The Raptors, who had only lost to the Lakers on the road twice in their previous nine trips, were led in scoring by Barrett, who finished with 23 points, and Quickley, who had 21 points and four 3-pointers.
Although Rajakovic’s players seemed to enjoy his aggressive language, the NBA is likely to fine him a lot for it.
“It simply indicates that he is dedicated to us as a family and a team,” stated Thaddeus Young, the starting center for Toronto with 10 points. “We’re going to stick together forever. We as a family and as a team will always stand behind one another. He has always stood by us since the first day we arrived here, and we will always stand together. We will always adore Darko. Coach is someone we greatly admire, and we are grateful that he is standing up for us.
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