Toronto Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajakovic had 155 reasons to be upset on Thursday.
156 if you count the official’s no-call on Scottie Barnes’ driving layup attempt in the fourth quarter.
On a night when the Memphis Grizzlies set a new franchise record for points scored in a game, it was Rajakovic’s expletive-laden and ejection-prompting outburst that drew the loudest cheers from the crowd gathered inside FedEx Forum.
The Grizzlies were ahead 127-103 when the Raptors’ head coach lost his cool — embarking on a screaming tirade towards veteran referee J.T. Orr.
Rajakovic called a timeout and stormed onto the court. “Call the f—ing foul! Call the f—ing foul,” he appeared to scream at the referee in a video of the escapade posted to X by ClutchPoints.
On the play prior, Barnes had driven towards the hoop through contact but no fouls were called.
The fourth-year Raptor missed his layup attempt and Chris Boucher missed his tip-in.
Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. promptly grabbed the rebound, the Grizzlies stormed down-court, and Scotty Pippen Jr. laid the ball up and in to extend the lead to 24, leading to Rajakovic’s timeout and ensuing tyraid.
Rajakovic — who has not always portrayed himself as a ref’s best friend — had to be held back by assistants and players alike.
Orr, now in his 16th year, seemed unfazed. The referee tossed the coach from the game with the calm and collected swing of his pointer finger.
With the head coach confined to cool off in the locker room, the Raptors continued to bleed points. By the game’s end, the Grizzlies had posted 155 to the Raptors’ 126.
Memphis saw all five of their starters — plus three players off the bench, net double-digit points. Zach Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr. led the crusade with 21 apiece.
Thursday’s loss was Toronto’s ninth in a row, and Rajakovic’s squad is now 7-24 on the season. Only the Washington Wizards and the New Orleans Pelicans have lower winning percentages.
Thus far in 2024, former Knickerbocker R.J. Barrett leads the Raptors in points (23.7) and assists (6.3) per game. Fellow New York alum and Toronto teammate Immanuel Quickley has played in only three games due to an elbow injury.
The Raptors’s putrid season continues on Sunday versus the Hawks.
