Raptors coach criticizes officials after close loss to Lakers

Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic expressed his anger over the officiating after the Lakers shot 23 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic expressed his frustration with the officiating after the Los Angeles Lakers shot 23 free throws in the fourth quarter of their 132-131 win over the Raptors on Tuesday night. Rajakovic, who is in his first year as Toronto's head coach, criticized the free throw disparity, particularly after Lakers' Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points in the final quarter, going 11 for 11 at the line. Davis took 14 of the Lakers' 36 free throws in the game, while the entire Toronto team shot only 13. Rajakovic called the situation "outrageous" and "a shame," questioning the fairness of the officiating and the league's decision to allow it. He was especially critical of the lack of free throws for Scottie Barnes, who he believes should have received more calls. Despite a strong performance by Davis, who grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 10 points in the final 1:01, including eight free throws without a miss, Rajakovic felt that the officials were biased against his team. His players supported him, with Thaddeus Young expressing their appreciation for Rajakovic's support. While LeBron James had 22 points and 12 assists for the Lakers, the Raptors played without Jakob Poeltl, who is sidelined indefinitely due to an ankle injury. Despite the Raptors' loss, Rajakovic's impassioned comments are likely to earn him a significant fine from the NBA.

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