The Los Angeles Clippers didn't lose Game 1 of their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors at the end of the first half. After a series of questionable calls went the other way, though, the Clippers quickly lost their composure, as technical fouls called on Danillo Gallinari and Doc Rivers contributed to the Warriors entering the third quarter on a 14-3 run.
After the game, Rivers insisted he wasn't angered at judgement calls by the referees favoring Golden State. Instead, he took particular exception with the technical foul called on Gallinari, especially in wake of so much more aggressive complaining from the Warriors being tolerated without a whistle.
“It was funny — I wasn't even upset at the missed calls. I was really upset at Gallo's tech,” Rivers said, per Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “It really bothered me because all Gallo said was, ‘Where was the foul?' And without me saying any names, if one of our guys is gonna get a tech for saying that, after what I witnessed in the first half, from at least, let me say, two of their guys, that was disgusting. That's what got me so upset.
“Gallo, who rarely gets a tech, didn't swear, didn't say anything,” he continued. “And to get a tech in a playoff game for saying ‘What foul?' after I saw a couple guys on the other team cussing, swearing, pointing, yelling, and nothing [was called]? It's just not right.”
The Warriors 121-104 victory over the Clippers contained more fireworks late. Both Kevin Durant and Patrick Beverley, who had been engaging in a demonstrative back and forth throughout the game, were ejected in the fourth quarter after Durant stood over Beverley following a turnover, causing the two to come chest to chest.
Game 2 is on Monday. Buckle up.
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