Nick Kyrgios thinks referees are ‘fortunate to still have a job’ in sports in wake of the Celtics’ defeat to Pacers following disputed last-minute play.
Nick Kyrgios thinks referees are ‘fortunate to still have a job’ in sports in wake of the Celtics’ defeat to Pacers following disputed last-minute play
Kyrgios has aimed at referees after his favorite NBA club, the Boston Celtics, lost 133-131 to the Indiana Pacers on Monday (January 8), citing a number of contentious rulings.
The Boston Celtics, the Eastern Conference’s top team, seemed on course for their 29th win of the 2023-24 NBA season after dominating their seventh-place opponents in the first two quarters.
However, the Indiana Pacers mounted a surprising comeback to win the next two quarters.
With the score knotted at 131-131, Celtics player Jaylen Brown prepared to fire from three. However, he was stopped due to a foul by Pacers’ player Buddy Hield.
The courtside referee finally called a foul in favor of the Boston Celtics.
However, following a Pacers challenge, the verdict was reversed, and the Indianapolis-based team was given possession with less than four seconds remaining.
Decisive action followed immediately, with Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis fouling Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin in the same fashion as the previous challenge seconds later.
However, the referees sounded their whistles to signify the conclusion of the play. Porzingis took advantage of the opportunity, sinking the game-winning three-point shot to give their eighth loss of the season.
Nick Kyrgios has had multiple encounters with tennis officials in the past
Tennis fans are well aware of Nick Kyrgios’ past issues with umpires. The Australian has had several on-court meltdowns following a call that went against him.
The Australian’s most noteworthy outburst came in his second-round encounter against Casper Ruud at the 2019 Italian Open.
The then-24-year-old was ejected from the game after tossing a chair onto the court while serving a game penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Kyrgios has yelled expletives at officials in the past.
Nick Kyrgios and senior umpire Carlos Bernardes also got into a heated argument. During the former’s match against Jannik Sinner at the 2022 Miami Open.
The former World No. 13 questioned Bernardes’ credibility in the first set, dissatisfied with his officiating and crowd control.
The Spanish umpire promptly punished Kyrgios with a point and a game penalty.
The Australian’s concentration suffered as a result of the confrontation, and he lost the match in straight sets.
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