Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had 155 causes to be upset Thursday — nicely, 156 in case you depend the official’s no-call on Scottie Barnes’ driving layup try within the fourth quarter.
On an evening when the Memphis Grizzlies set a brand new franchise file for factors scored in a 155-126 victory, it was Rajakovic’s expletive-laden and ejection-prompting outburst that drew the loudest cheers from the FedEx Discussion board crowd.
The Grizzlies led 127-103 when the Raptors’ head coach misplaced his cool — embarking on a screaming tirade towards veteran referee J.T. Orr.
Rajakovic referred to as a timeout and stormed onto the courtroom.
“Call the f–king foul! Call the f–king foul,” he appeared to scream on the referee, as seen in a video of the escapade posted to X by ClutchPoints.
On the play prior, Barnes had pushed towards the ring by way of contact however no fouls have been referred to as.
The fourth-year Raptor missed his layup try and Chris Boucher missed his tip-in.
Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. promptly grabbed the rebound, the Grizzlies stormed down courtroom and Scotty Pippen Jr. laid the ball up and in to increase the result in 24, resulting in Rajakovic’s timeout and ensuing blow-up.
Rajakovic — who has not all the time portrayed himself as a ref’s greatest pal — needed to be held again by assistants and gamers alike.
Orr, now in his sixteenth yr, appeared unfazed. The referee tossed the coach from the sport with the calm and picked up swing of his pointer finger.
With the top coach confined to chill off within the locker room, the Raptors continued to bleed factors.
Memphis noticed all 5 of its starters — plus three gamers off the bench — web double-digit factors. Zach Edey and Jackson Jr. led the campaign with 21 apiece.
Thursday’s loss was Toronto’s ninth in a row and Rajakovic’s squad is now 7-24 on the season. Solely the Washington Wizards and the New Orleans Pelicans have decrease profitable percentages.
To this point in 2024, former Knickerbocker R.J. Barrett leads the Raptors in factors (23.7) and assists (6.3) per sport. Fellow Knicks alum and Toronto teammate Immanuel Quickley has performed in solely three video games because of an elbow harm.
The Raptors’s putrid season continues Sunday versus the Hawks.
