NBA Fines Sixers’ Kelly Oubre and Coach Nick Nurse $50,000 Each for ‘Verbally Abusing’ Referees After Blown Call

Matt Slocum/AP

The NBA on Friday announced it fined Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre and coach Nick Nurse $50,000 for their actions toward referees after Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 108-107 loss ended with Oubre attempting and missing a layup with Clippers forward Paul George defending him. Oubre believed he was fouled on the play and held up his middle finger toward one of the officials when the buzzer sounded.

Before that play, the Sixers also felt like the refs blew another call when they overturned an out-of-bounds call to give the ball to the Clippers on a crucial possession.

As a result, both Oubre and Nurse gave the officials an earful. While Nurse’s yelling was mostly unintelligible for viewers at home, Oubre could be seen clearly saying, “You’re a bitch,” directly in front of the refs.

Oubre later apologized for the outburst. The officials also acknowledged that a foul should have been called.

Still, it cost Oubre and his coach $50,000.

“Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has been fined $50,000 for aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing game officials,” the league said in a statement, “and 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. has been fined $50,000 for verbally abusing and directing an obscene gesture toward game officials, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.”

The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/OpispMMbaS

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) March 29, 2024

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