Rockets coach Ime Udoka fined for slamming refs after overtime loss to Denver

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Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, left, appeals to official Kari Lane, right, as a possible flagrant foul call against Jabari Smith Jr. is reviewed in the last 14 seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, right, looks to shoot a basket over Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) — Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, left, appeals to official Kari Lane, right, as a possible flagrant foul call against Jabari Smith Jr. is reviewed in the last 14 seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

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4:52 PM on Wednesday, December 17

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Rockets coach Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing the officiating in Houston's 128-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets on Monday, the NBA announced Wednesday.

Udoka said in the postgame press conference the game was “the most poorly officiated (he's) seen in a long time" and took a shot at each official.

“Two (refs) have no business being out there and crew chief was acting starstruck, so you’re seeing all kinds of inconsistent calls, and I’m sure we should’ve got a few more techs,” Udoka said after the game.

The fine comes after the NBA's Last Two Minute Report revealed that there were three incorrect calls in overtime, all of which favored Denver. The report stated that the officials missed a call against Denver's Tim Hardaway Jr., and Houston's Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant were incorrectly called for fouls.

Thompson and Durant's fouls gave Denver four free throws. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray both went 2 for 2 and extended the lead to 128-122 with 47.2 seconds remaining.

Jokic had his 12th triple-double of the season and the Nuggets got their fifth consecutive win.

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