After the Lakers beat the Raptors 132-131 on Tuesday by making 23 fourth-quarter free throws, Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic questioned the officiating.
After Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points on 11-for-11 shooting in the fourth quarter, Toronto’s first-year Serbian head coach, Rajakovic, complained about the free throw difference. Toronto made 13 of 36 free throws, while Davis made 14.
Ridiculous. Rajakovic: “What happened tonight is nonsense.” Degrades. Poor referees. The league approved, unfortunately. Our two fourth-quarter free throws, their 23? Playing directions? We love all-stars, but our squad has stars.
“How is it possible that Scottie Barnes, who is an All-Star-caliber player in this league, goes every single time to the rim with force, trying to get to the rim without flopping and not trying to get foul calls, gets two free throws for a whole game?” Rajakovic smacked the table, anxious. Is that possible? How do I explain?”
After Davis went 13 for 17 with 11 rebounds, the Lakers beat the Raptors without Jakob Poeltl, who was injured. Davis scored 10 points in 1:01 on eight free throws, one of which Barnes blocked.
Rajkovic said officials ignored his team.
“They must win tonight.” Avoid the “Rajakovic” game. Allow them to win. Tonight was unjust. We won. Barnes will shine too. The season was terrible for him and the league.
The Raptors lost their second game in five after moving RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby. Barnes scored 26 and Siakam 25. Barrett scored 23 and Quickley 21 with four 3-pointers as the Raptors lost their second away game in nine.
The NBA will fine Rajakovic significantly for his diatribe, but his players liked it.
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“It just says that he’s all for us as a family, as a team,” said 10-point Toronto center Thaddeus Young. We’ll always cooperate. We’ll always support each other as a family and team. He always supported us, and we’ll always cooperate. Deathly love, Darko. We admire Coach’s advocacy.”
LeBron James scored 22 points and had 12 assists as the Lakers won consecutive games for the first time in a month. They beat the Clippers and Raptors on Sunday to return to.500 (19-19) after losing 3-10 after winning the first NBA In-Season Tournament in December.
“It was all of us,” said Davis, who rarely missed late free shots. I wasn’t alone. Major stops. I was meant to make free shots after rebounds, but the team read and finished.
Quickley was fouled for elbowing Cam Reddish in the face with 3:52 left. Davis blocked Barnes’ shot, made a quick layup, and added two free throws after Gary Trent Jr.’s 3-pointer put the Raptors up 121-120 with 1:08 left.
An offensive foul by Barrett stopped Barnes’ 24.8-second 3-pointer. Austin Reaves and Davis’ 10 straight free throws in 34 seconds surprised Toronto’s Dennis Schröder and Trent, who scored 3-pointers in the final four seconds.
Injured last Sunday at Golden State, Poeltl will miss indefinitely. Leading NBA shooting (68.5), the Utah native scores 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds.
“We knew we had an advantage on the interior tonight, and we just tried to get it to Davis early, often, and late,” she said.
He recorded 10 points and six assists against his previous team from two seasons ago. Schloder accidentally banked in a 3-pointer with four seconds left before Trent’s buzzer-beater. Davis made two more freebies.
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