Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic had a brilliant night against the Portland Trail Blazers, but it was not without any hiccup as he was called for a technical foul late in the game.

During the third quarter of the contest, Jokic was handed a tech after constantly barking at the referees. While it didn't have much effect to the result of the game–with the Nuggets leading from start to finish–the Serbian big man's frustration was still a main talking point. Besides, due to the physicality of the game, tempers were already expected to flare up.

After the contest, Jokic addressed his technical foul and the officiating during the game. There were several technical fouls thrown, and even CJ McCollum was called for a flagrant after shooving Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo.

Nikola Jokic acknowledged the difficulty of being an NBA referee, adding that they have the toughest job in the world. The Nuggets star then admitted he can't imagine why anyone would want to be a referee in the league given the constant criticism and pressure they are put into–especially in the playoffs.

Indeed, there are no lies from Jokic here. Given the intensity of the playoffs and the importance of every game, the referees are being put under the microscope more than any other time in the regular season.

The Nuggets, and the Blazers for that matter, can only hope the officiating improves moving forward. After all, with the series tied at 1-1, a crucial or controversial call can very well have a huge impact on the score and the series.