CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for aggressively pursuing, berating and making inadvertent contact with a game official.
The fine stems from Atkinson’s ejection with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 126-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday at Mortgage Matchup Center. After being assessed his second technical foul, Atkinson was removed following a prolonged confrontation with the officiating crew.
Atkinson’s first technical foul came midway through the first quarter was an intentional attempt to get the game under control as Phoenix played with heavy physicality.
“I sensed it early,” he said. “I got an early technical to try to slow it down. Shocked. One free throw after three quarters as aggressive as they were playing, we knew they were going to play super physical, but you have to blow your whistle, and you have to be fair about it.”
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Even after being pulled away from officials Mitchell Ervin, Nate Green and Michael Smith — after his second technical — Atkinson continued to implore them to call the game evenly on both ends. He later criticized what he felt was a lack of accountability and consistency from the league’s officiating.
“We had one free throw after three quarters against a team that [is 26th in fouls],” Atkinson said following the loss. “And the second free throw we got was after a flop. I’m not pleased. I thought the game got out of hand, quite honestly. Parts of the game seemed circus-like, quite honestly. I don’t know if that’s what we want as a league.
“Certain characters in this league take liberties and we don’t stand up to them and the game turns into reviews, challenges, go to the monitor for 20 minutes when we’re just trying to play basketball. I don’t think it’s good for the league and I know it wasn’t good for us tonight. Thought they let the game get out of hand.”
The NBA announced the fine Saturday. It will not prevent Atkinson from coaching in Sunday’s contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.