Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has been fined $25,000 for walking onto the playing court at halftime of Saturday’s Game 3 to verbally confront game officials, NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell announced Sunday.
The incident apparently was triggered by a call that went against the Raptors toward the end of the first half in Cleveland.
A basket by Serge Ibaka was originally counted and then waved off by the referees after they consulted. The call led to DeMar DeRozan, coach Dwane Casey and his assistants screaming at the officials, and Ujiri also joined in.
The reversal was doubly painful as Kevin Love buried a 3-pointer on the next play.
When the half ended, an incensed Casey, his suit coat flying open and his tie jumping off his chest, stormed off the floor.
“I thought there were some bad calls down the stretch that all went against us,” DeRozan said. “It still came down to a running, bank-shot, game winner by LeBron.”
Game 4 is Monday night in Cleveland. Toronto, which is trailing in the series 3-0, needs a win to stay alive in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source : ESPN
