Rockets’ Ime Udoka lashes out at officials after OT loss
DENVER — Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka was furious with the referee during his team’s 128-125 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, saying it was “the worst officiated game I’ve seen in a long time.”
It was a close game, with both teams combining for 59 free throw attempts and both Denver centers – Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas – committing fouls.
The most crucial call, however, came with 2.3 seconds left in regulation and Denver was losing 117-116. Before the Nuggets could get the ball back for the final possession, Amen Thompson was cautioned for an out-of-play foul after appearing to trip Tim Hardaway Jr. Houston challenged the call but it was upheld and Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray made the free throw to tie the game.
“In general, I think it was the worst officiated match I have seen in a long time,” Udoka said after the match. “[Officials Natalie Sago and Jamahl Ralls] I have nothing to do there and [crew chief Zach Zarba] was a hit acting star. You see all kinds of inconsistent calls and I’m sure we should have brought in a few more technicians. »
The few minutes leading up to the call were crazy, with the final 1:40 of regulation time seeing four ties and four lead changes. In overtime, the Nuggets took a 124-117 lead after a Spencer Jones 3 with 2:59 left, but the Rockets clawed back, closing within three with the ball and 13 seconds remaining. Alperen Sengun missed a contested 24-foot-3 with 4.9 seconds remaining, allowing Denver to preserve the victory.
“I mean, it’s a physical game,” Murray said of the officials after the game, according to the Denver Post. “It’s hard for the refs to call both sides, even dead. I think they missed a few calls on our side, and they missed a few calls on their side, so I don’t really think it was a problem tonight.”
Jokic finished with 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 12th triple-double and Murray added 35 points while hitting 14 of 15 from the free throw line.
Sengun led the Rockets with 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant added 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five blocks for Houston, which lost its third straight road game.
A Nuggets team already missing two starters, Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle), played much of the game without starting guard Peyton Watson, who left six minutes into the first quarter after suffering a right trunk contusion.
This victory gave the Nuggets sole possession of second place in the Western Conference with a score of 19-6. They are 4.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 1 seed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
