The Toronto Raptors head coach passionately criticized officials after a 132-131 defeat to the LA Lakers, describing it as “outrageous.”

Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic expressed frustration with the referees when the Los Angeles Lakers had 23 free throws in the fourth quarter, helping them secure a narrow 132-131 victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night.

Toronto’s coach, Rajakovic, wasn’t happy about the Lakers getting more chances to shoot free throws. Anthony Davis, a Lakers player, scored a lot of points in the last part of the game and made all his free throws. The Lakers had 36 free throws, but the entire Toronto team only had 13.

Rajakovic, the coach of Toronto, expressed strong frustration. He called the situation “outrageous” and criticized the referees and the league for allowing it. He pointed out the disparity in free throws, with the Lakers getting 23 and his team only getting two in the fourth quarter. Rajakovic questioned why his star player, Scottie Barnes, received only two free throws for the entire game. His frustration was evident as he slapped the table for emphasis.

Anthony Davis had a fantastic game for the Lakers against the Raptors. He grabbed 11 rebounds and made 13 out of 17 shots. The Raptors were at a disadvantage without their starting center, Jakob Poeltl, who was injured. In the crucial moments of the game, Davis scored 10 points in the last 1:01, making all eight free throws and blocking an important shot from Barnes.

Rajakovic expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the officials didn’t give his team a fair chance in the game. He suggested that if the other team was expected to win, they should inform them beforehand to avoid playing unnecessarily. Rajakovic also complained about a history of unfair situations for his team. On a positive note, he praised Scottie Barnes, believing that Barnes will become an All-Star and a prominent figure in the league.

Barnes contributed 26 points, while Siakam added 25 for the Raptors. This marked just the second loss in five games since the team acquired RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from New York in exchange for OG Anunoby. Barrett scored 23 points, and Quickley had a notable performance with 21 points, including four 3-pointers. The Raptors faced defeat on the road against the Lakers, which is only the second loss in their last nine trips to play against them.

Rajakovic’s strong comments are likely to result in a significant fine from the NBA, but his players seem to appreciate his outspoken support.

Thaddeus Young, who scored 10 points as Toronto’s starting center, expressed, “It just says that he’s all for us as a family, as a team. We’re always going to stick together. We’re always going to be behind one another as a family, as a team. We’re always going to stick together, and he’s always been behind us since Day One coming in here. We love Darko to death. We think the world of Coach, and we really appreciate him going to bat for us.”

LeBron James contributed 22 points and dished out 12 assists for the Lakers, leading them to consecutive victories for the first time in a month. After facing challenges with a 3-10 record following their win in the December NBA In-Season Tournament, the Lakers successfully fended off the Clippers and outlasted the Raptors, bringing their overall record to .500 (19-19).

“It was a team effort,” Davis emphasized, clarifying that it wasn’t just about him. He had no issues hitting important free throws this time. The team made effective stops, secured rebounds, and executed smart plays.

Quickley fouled out after unintentionally elbowing Cam Reddish in the face at 3:52 left in the game. Gary Trent Jr. put the Raptors ahead 121-120 with a 3-pointer at 1:08. However, Davis quickly responded with a layup, blocked Barnes’ shot, and made two free throws shortly after.

Barrett was called for an offensive foul, erasing Barnes’ tying 3-pointer with 24.8 seconds left. In the last 34 seconds, Davis and Austin Reaves made 10 consecutive free throws, securing the Lakers’ win despite late 3-pointers from Toronto’s Schröder and Trent in the final four seconds.

Toronto played without Poeltl, who’s out indefinitely due to a left ankle sprain suffered in a game against Golden State last Sunday. The University of Utah product has been performing well, averaging 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, leading the NBA with a shooting percentage of 68.5%.

Schröder had 10 points and six assists against the team with which he spent two of the previous three seasons. Schröder accidentally banked in a 3-pointer with four seconds to play, but Davis hit two more free throws before Trent’s 3 at the buzzer.