On Friday, Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse and guard Kelly Oubre Jr. were suspended by the NBA for their handling of a missed call that led to Philadelphia's one-point loss Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. They were each fined $50,000.
In the final minute of the 76ers' 108-107 loss, Oubre was not called for a foul on the game-winning drive, but Nurse stormed onto the court and had to be restrained by his assistants. Mr. Oubre also jumped in, pointed at each of the three officials, and was separated.
Crew chief Kevin Scott said in the postgame pool report that the foul on Clippers forward Paul George should have been called, giving Oubre two free throws and a chance to win the game. He said he should have been able to get it.
Joe Dumars, NBA executive vice president and chief of basketball operations, said in a release that Nurse was fined for “aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing game officials,” and Oubre was fined for “aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing game officials.” He was fined for “verbally abusing officers and directing them to make obscene gestures.”
Oubre publicly apologized for “losing his cool” after the game, but also detailed why he pursued the officials.
“I saw Coach Nurse being furious. If our coach is going to fight for us and go out there, I'm right behind him,” Oubre said. “But at the end of the day, it wasn't cool. So I take all the penalties that come with that. And you have to move on, but in a way I've gotten better.”
The loss drops the 76ers (39-34) to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Miami Heat in seventh place and one-and-a-half behind the Indiana Pacers to qualify for the play-in tournament. Avoided.
The 76ers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Information from ESPN's Tim Bontemps was used in this report.
