Clippers' Rivers rips 'disgusting' officiating after loss to Warriors

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers wasn't pleased following his team's Game 1 loss to the Golden State Warriors and his discontent partly stemmed what he viewed as a double standard in officiating.

Both Rivers and forward Danilo Gallinari were hit with technical fouls just before halftime of the Clippers' 121-104 loss, and the coach explained afterward he was reacting to the call on Gallinari.

"I was really upset at Gal's tech," Rivers told reporters postgame. "It really bothered me because all Gal said was, 'Where was the foul?' And without me saying any names, if one of our guys (is) going to get a tech for saying that, after what I witnessed in the first half from at least, let me just say two of (the Warriors') guys, that was disgusting. ...That's what got me so upset."

The Clippers went into halftime trailing by 13 and never closed the gap to fewer than six points in the second half.

"Gal, who rarely gets a tech, didn't swear, didn't say anything," Rivers 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? It's just not right.

"We have to be consistent. My tech, by the way, and you can read my lips, I said, 'All I want is consistency.' That was what I got a tech for at halftime."

Referees appeared to have quick whistles throughout the contest. Both Patrick Beverley of the Clippers and Kevin Durant of the Warriors were ejected in the fourth quarter after a brief exchange that followed Durant pressing Beverley at midcourt.

After the game, Durant called the feisty matchup "fun."