Tempers flared on the bench during a Monday night matchup between two of the best teams in the league, the Toronto Raptors and the Denver Nuggets. It was expected to be an exciting and close game, and it is not uncommon in the NBA to see raw emotion displayed on the floor in these scenarios.
Sure enough, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse got a bit too hot-headed with the game winding down.
Hold Nick Nurse back!! pic.twitter.com/5ygwBTdaUW
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) December 4, 2018
With just over seven minutes remaining in the game and the Nuggets holding a one-point lead, Raptors center Jonas Valnciunas was called for bumping Nuggets guard Monte Morris on a three-point attempt. As Valanciunas looked puzzled being whistled on the slight bump, Nurse exploded on the bench and was held back by his assistant coaches. He was immediately whistled for a technical foul after loudly berating and gesturing at the referees.
Nurse wasn't the only one upset at the call. Cameras caught forward Greg Monroe with his arms raised in distress, in disbelief that the foul was called.
It's good to see that Nurse sticks up for his players when he believes they were subject to a bad call, but giving up a point can hurt and swing momentum.
In the end, the Nuggets had the last laugh and prevailed 106-103 after Kyle Lowry was unable to hit the game-tying three pointers. Nurse is sure to bring up the questionable foul call and will learn from this experience to get his point across to the referees without costing the Raptors a point.
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