Raptors' Darko Rajakovic is angry about the loss to the Lakers
LOS ANGELES — Toronto Coach Darko Rajakovic launched an angry tirade against the referee after the game Los Angeles Lakers shot 23 free throws in the fourth quarter 132-131 win about the Raptors on Tuesday night.
Rajakovic, Toronto's first-year head coach, erased the game's free throw tie afterward Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter while going 11-for-11 in the final period. Davis shot 14 of the Lakers' 36 free throws, while Toronto's entire squad only shot 13.
“It's outrageous. What happened tonight is complete nonsense,” Rajakovic said. “That's a shame. A shame for the referees. Shame on the league for allowing this to happen. Twenty-three free throws for them and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter? How to play the game? I understand the respect for all stars and all that, but we also have star players on our team.
“How [is it] possible that Scottie Barnes, who is an all-star player in this league, who goes to the rim with force every time and tries to get to the rim without flopping and without trying to draw fouls, he gets two for an entire game Free throws? Rajakovic added, tapping the table repeatedly for emphasis. “How is this possible?” How are you going to explain this to me?
Davis grabbed 11 rebounds and made 13 of 17 while carrying the Lakers down the stretch. He rounded out his masterful performance by scoring 1:01 points in the finale, including eight free throws without a miss, and making a crucial block on Barnes.
Davis' 14 free throw attempts were a season high for the Lakers big man.
“He was able to get a lot of touches and guys found him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Davis. “And his ability to get to the free throw line and knock down free throws, that’s just a matter of reading the game and seeing how it goes.”
Rajakovic apparently believed that those in charge never gave his team a chance.
“You had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know so we don’t show up to the game,” Rajakovic said. “Just give them a win. But that wasn't fair tonight. And this isn't the first time this has happened for us. It will be Scottie Barnes.” [an] All Star. He’s going to be the face of this league and what’s happening here throughout the season… it’s complete crap.”
Barnes scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam had 25 for the Raptors, who lost for just the second time in five games since taking over RJ Barrett And Immanuel Quickley out of new York for OG Anunoby. Barrett scored 23 points and Quickley had 21 with four 3-pointers but was fouled with an elbow Cam Reddish 3:52 minutes before the end of the game in the face for an obvious foul.
Barrett was called for an offensive foul that negated a tying 3-pointer by Barnes with 24.8 seconds left in the game.
Asked if he had been given an explanation for the offensive foul, Rajakovic replied: “No, there is no explanation.” He said officials would review the plays and “see what they want to see,” adding : “They don’t hear what we have to say. They don’t want to hear the players.”
“How should we play? A lot happens, but I tell our guys to be professional, keep fighting, keep going for the next game. But until when? How long?”
“You had to win tonight? If that's the case, just let us know so we don't show up to the game. Just give them a win. But that wasn't fair tonight. And this isn't the first time this has happened for us.”
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic
Free throws were relatively even through the first three quarters, 13 for LA and 11 for Toronto, before the Lakers' total skyrocketed in the fourth quarter.
Lebron JamesWhen asked about the discrepancy, he said, “I feel like they fouled and we didn't.”
Rajakovic's profanity will likely earn him a significant fine from the NBA, but his players seemed to appreciate his verbal combativeness.
“It just means he’s there for us as a family, as a team,” he said Squidward Youngwho scored 10 points as Toronto's starting center instead of the injured Jakob Pöltl. “We will always stick together. We will always have each other's back as a family, as a team. We will always stick together and he has always had our back from the first day he came here.” We love Darko more than anything. We really appreciate Coach and definitely appreciate him playing for us.”
Information from Dave McMenamin of ESPN and The Associated Press was included in this report.
