Raptors' Rajakovic fined $25K for publicly criticizing officials

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officiating after the team's 132-121 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, executive vice president Joe Dumars announced Thursday.

Rajakovic, Toronto’s first-year head coach, ripped the game’s free-throw disparity after Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter while going 11-for-11 at the line in the final period. Davis shot 14 of the Lakers’ 36 free throws in the game, while the entire Toronto roster shot only 13.

“It’s outrageous. What happened tonight, this is completely B.S.,” Rajakovic said. “This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this. Twenty-three free throws for them, and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter? Like, how to play the game? I understand respect for All-Stars and all that, but we have star players on our team as well.

“How (is it) possible that Scottie Barnes, who is All-Star-calibre player in this league, he goes every single time to the rim with force and trying to get to the rim without flopping and not trying to get foul calls, he gets two free throws for a whole game?” Rajakovic added, slapping the table repeatedly for emphasis. “How is that possible? How are you going to explain that to me?”

Rajakovic felt the officials never gave his team a chance.

“They had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know, so we don’t show up for the game,” Rajakovic said. “Just give them a win. But that was not fair tonight. And this is not happening first time for us. Scottie Barnes is gonna be (an) All-Star. He’s gonna be the face of this league, and what’s happening over here during whole season … it’s complete crap.”