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Clippers Coach Doc Rivers fined $25,000 by NBA for criticizing refs

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers yells at referee Bennett Salvatore near the end of Game 5.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Clippers Coach Doc Rivers was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for his comments criticizing officials after the 105-104 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series Tuesday night.

The call in question came with 11.3 seconds left in the game in Oklahoma City and the Clippers leading, 104-102. Thunder guard Reggie Jackson drove to the rim and was hit on the hand by Matt Barnes, knocking the ball out of bounds. The officials stopped play to look at TV replays to determine who touched the ball last.

The replays appeared to show Jackson last touched the ball. The officials disagreed, saying replays were inconclusive, and gave Oklahoma City possession. On the ensuing play, Chris Paul was called for a foul on a three-point attempt by Russell Westbrook, who made all three of his free throws.

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“It was our ball,” Rivers said after the game. “Everybody knows that it was our ball. I think the bottom line they thought it was a foul and they made up for it. In my opinion, let’s take away replay. Let’s take away the replay system because that’s our ball. We win the game and we got robbed because of that play.

“It’s clear. Everybody in the arena saw it. That is why everybody was shocked when they said Oklahoma City [ball]. That was our ball.”

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