Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse has been fined $15,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for public criticism of the officiating, which occurred after Sunday's loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Nurse directed his ire at officials for not calling fouls made against star Kawhi Leonard. He was particularly alarmed that Leonard had only four free throws in the 95-86 loss despite Leonard's work around the rim.
"Tonight was a very severe case of a guy who was playing great, taking it to the rim, and just absolutely getting held, grabbed, poked, slapped, hit and everything. And they refused to call any of it," Nurse told reporters after Sunday's game. "It was unbelievable to me. You can't tell me one of the best players in the league takes a hundred hits in that game and shoots four free throws."
"It's ridiculous," Nurse added. "The guy is one of the best players in the league. He doesn't complain. They just turn their head and go the other way. It's been going on all year."
The fine was announced by NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
