Raptors' Nurse fined $15K for criticizing officials over Leonard
The NBA fined Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse $15,000 on Tuesday after he criticized officials for their treatment of Kawhi Leonard this season, as relayed by The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Nurse spoke publicly about the lack of foul calls for his star player after Leonard shot just four free throws in the Raptors' 95-86 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
"I do not understand why they are letting everybody play one of the best players in the league so physically. I do not understand it," Nurse said before adding that the treatment of Leonard has "been going on all year."
Leonard noted that he appreciated Nurse defending him.
"When your coach is seeing the same things you are feeling (on the floor), it's great," Leonard told Sportsnet's Michael Grange on Tuesday.
The Raptors (23-9) will look to snap a two-game losing skid on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers.