The Sacramento Kings were clearly frustrated after their 116-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets, and DeMar DeRozan didn’t hold back in expressing his thoughts on the officiating. However, the league was not pleased with his remarks and decided to fine him.
“Sacramento Kings guard-forward DeMar DeRozan has been fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officiating,” the NBA announced through Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations. “DeRozan made his comments to the media following the Kings’ 116-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 5 at Ball Arena.”
In the game, the Kings were called for 20 personal fouls compared to the Nuggets’ 14, leading to Denver taking 16 more free throws. In the fourth quarter alone, Sacramento was whistled for seven fouls. After the game, DeRozan openly voiced his frustration with the officiating.
“The refs were terrible—terrible as s**t. It’s as simple as that,” DeMar DeRozan said, as reported by Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee. “There were multiple missed calls. Just check the free-throw difference.
“There were plenty of times we got hit, got smacked. I took three or four shots where I was clearly fouled, but no whistle. Meanwhile, they get the same call on the other end. It throws off our whole rhythm, gives them momentum at home, and makes it tough for us to execute. This was a game we should have won.”
The Kings are in a crucial stretch of their season as they fight to stay in the Play-In race. Currently sitting ninth in the Western Conference, they face a tight battle for a postseason spot. They’ve been playing well in recent weeks, and their next challenge will be against a familiar face—De’Aaron Fox, whom they traded to the San Antonio Spurs.