Rockets forward Dillon Brooks and head coach Ime Udoka were each fined by the NBA for directing inappropriate language toward a game official, the NBA announced on Tuesday (link).
Brooks, whose infractions also included publicly criticizing the officiating, was hit with a $35K penalty, while Udoka was fined $25K.
The incident in question occurred near the end of Houston’s loss to Milwaukee on Sunday, when Brooks and Udoka were ejected in quick succession for taking exception to a flopping call on Brooks (video link via Bleacher Report).
After the game, Udoka referred to it as a “blatant” missed call and said the same referee (Suyash Mehta) was missing calls throughout the game, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required). Brooks was also critical of Mehta.
“I’m sick of refs being right in front of the play and not making calls and then compiling it with a bailout call like a flop,” Brooks said. “I ran full speed to get the ball after I made a great play on trying to get a steal. Two hands are on me. After that, I’m throwing the ball and trying to protect myself and not falling into whatever that was — into the fans or the bottom of the floor.
“I’m trying to protect myself, and then on top that, he wants to call a flop with a minute left. That doesn’t make sense. Make calls during the game while the game is going on, but not trying to get something off. It’s unacceptable for me. That ref shouldn’t even be reffing our games, for real.”
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