Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic went on an all-time postgame rant Tuesday night following the team's 132-131 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rajakovic's main gripe had to do with the officiating and more specifically, the free throw discrepancy between the two teams in the fourth quarter.
4th quarter free throw attempts
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 10, 2024
Lakers 23
Raptors 2
The +21 Free Throw Attempt differential is the largest discrepancy in any quarter in the NBA this season
“F-ing BS” was his closing comment on his way out: https://t.co/md52MmtF8m
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) January 10, 2024
Raptors reporter Doug Smith speculated that the first-year coach's words could result in a fine of roughly $35,000. Smith also compared Rajakovic's rant to one from former Toronto guard Fred VanVleet in March 2023, which targeted referee Ben Taylor.
Ironically, Taylor was one of the game officials for Tuesday's Lakers-Raptors contest as well.
Last year, following the Toronto loss against the Los Angeles Clippers, VanVleet said "I don't mind, I'll take a fine, I don't really care," before unloading on Taylor.
"Ben Taylor was f---ing terrible tonight," the one-time All-Star said, among other things.
Weeks after "FVV" criticized the 38-year-old referee, it was reported that Taylor had been demoted in recent game assignments.
Lakers big man Anthony Davis put in 20 of his 41 points in the final frame during Tuesday's game and went 11-of-11 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter alone. His 14 free throws were one more than the 13 that the Raptors had as a team.
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