ESPN REPORT: Details on Darko Rajakovic suspension.
The NBA on Thursday fined Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic $25,000, just two days after he took offense with officiating during his team’s 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rajakovic was especially upset about the Lakers’ 23 free throws in the fourth quarter compared to the Raptors’ meager two attempts. This season, the 21-point difference in free throws was the biggest for any quarter in an NBA game.
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The Lakers made 36 free throws during the game, with 14 of those coming from Anthony Davis alone, while the Raptors only made 13.
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Raptors coach lashes out at officials following Lakers’ 23 free throws in the fourth and seventieth quarters.
After that game, Rajakovic uttered the words, “What happened tonight, this is completely B.S.”, occasionally striking the table he was sitting on to emphasize his point. “It’s a shame. 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 get two?”
The Raptors’ first-year head coach, Ivica Rajakovic, continued to refer to the game as “not fair” and implied that this wasn’t the first instance this season where Toronto believed the refereeing wasn’t fair.
Up until Tuesday, Toronto had allowed the second-fewest free throws per game in the NBA. Before that game, opponents’ foul shots against the Raptors this season averaged 19.5.
The judgment that Davis drew a foul on an RJ Barrett screen with 24.8 seconds remaining, on a play when Scottie Barnes would have tied the game with a three-pointer, further infuriated the Raptors. To no effect, the Raptors contended that Davis flopped.
Had they won tonight? Please inform us if that is the case so that we can avoid attending the game “Rajakovic remarked. “Just give it to them. But tonight, that was unfair. We are not experiencing this for the first time.”
The Raptors fell to the Clippers 126-120 on Wednesday in Los Angeles, suffering another defeat. Rajakovic stated before to the game that the team was over the previous night’s defeat.
“I’m going to always stand up for my team and for my players and for my organization,” he stated.
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Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans will miss at least two weeks due to a knee injury.
According to Pat McAfee, Zion Williamson is at last living up to the expectations placed on him during his teenage years at Duke and high school. (1:48)
Associated Press at 10:56 AM ET on March 22, 2024
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NEW ORLEANS — The Pelicans revealed on Friday that Brandon Ingram, their prolific scorer, will be out for at least two weeks due to a bone injury in his left knee.
During Thursday night’s loss in Orlando, Ingram hyperextended his knee and required assistance to leave the court.
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The team doctors assessed the extent of the injuries after he had imaging done overnight.
Ingram, who is averaging 20.9 points per game, has an open road ahead of him in terms of his recovery from his injury. In the thick of things in the Western Conference playoff picture are the Pelicans (43-27).
After Ingram is reevaluated in two weeks, the Pelicans say they anticipate updates on his readiness.
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Russell Westbrook breaks his left hand in the first half of the Clippers’ game against the Wizards and is not expected to play again until next week, according to Ty Lue. (0:30)
Ohm Youngmisuk, Staff Writer for ESPN
At 06:13 PM ET on March 22, 2024
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In the moments leading up to his team’s 125-117 victory over Portland on Friday, LA Clippers coach Ty Lue announced that point guard Russell Westbrook will be back in the starting lineup sometime next week.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Westbrook might return to action as soon as Monday against the Indiana Pacers.
Three weeks will have passed since Westbrook had surgery to fix the fractured left hand he sustained against the Washington Wizards on March 1. The game against the Pacers on Monday will celebrate that milestone.
One of the best sixth man in the NBA, in terms of hustle and aggressive energy, has been missed by the Clippers. Without their former MVP point guard, they are 6-5.
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In 58 games, Westbrook has averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. After James Harden was traded, he decided to come off the bench in order to improve the chemistry inside the Clippers. He had started the first ten games of the season.
The Clippers went 28-8 from the moment he entered the game off the bench against the Houston Rockets on November 17 until he sustained his hand injury.
Westbrook’s return will provide the Clippers, who have just dropped four of their last five games, a much-needed boost.
In the third quarter, with the Clippers leading 21 points, Harden joked about closing out on a Kawhi Leonard 3-point try during Wednesday’s 116-103 victory against Portland. This made Harden go viral. Amir Coffey sank an open three to conclude the possession after Leonard missed the three.
Harden clarified that he was attempting to lighten the Clippers’ mood, as they had been feeling a little down.
Harden stated, “Got to add some excitement to the team.” “I believe that we have experienced a fog over the past few weeks, and I believe that every team experiences this. Thus, I believe that all I’m doing is attempting to instill a positive attitude and spirit in this team. To be honest, it would have been preferable if he had made the shot. Just provide some humor and enthusiasm for the next season.”
Since starters were first monitored in 1970–71 (minimum 50 games), only Westbrook has averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench for a career, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
When it comes to assists per game this season, he is among the top 10. And as the contesting defender, Westbrook has restricted opponents to 39.7% shooting, which is third best among players to contest 300 or more attempts this season. The Clippers will be happy to have him back on defense.
