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After Losing $35,000, Clippers HC Tyronn Lue Apologizes to ‘Gucci Mane’ James Williams and Crew

Published 02/21/2024, 8:08 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

During Wednesday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers‘ head coach, Tyronn Lue, found himself ejected from the game with a significant portion of the fourth quarter remaining. Lue didn’t hold back his words for the referees after the match, having received multiple technical fouls in a gap of two minutes. However, he was later fined $35,000 for his comments directed at the officiating crew.

In a recent development, Lue turned the NBA’s retaliation into a valuable lesson, offering a sincere apology to James Williams and the entire refereeing crew for his behavior on the court. Additionally, he extended massive kudos to associate head coach Dan Craig and the rest of the coaching staff for successfully securing the win in his absence.

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The Clippers entered the fourth quarter with a double-digit deficit. As Tyronn Lue quickly garnered two techs, the roster was locked in for a potentially tough night. Surprisingly, in his absence, the team delivered their best quarter of the season, scoring 44 points and holding Golden State to their worst quarter with just 28 points. With that, the Clippers edged past with a thrilling 130-125 win.

Post-game, Lue pointed fingers at the referees, exclaiming, “Where the refs at now? Cheating! That’s all they be doing. Where they at now?.” Lue was also caught on camera yelling, “Where James [Williams] at? The referee. I want to kick him in the mouth.” Williams was one of the key officials managing the game.

Steve Kerr Pinpoints What Lead to Warriors 44-points Leak in Final Quarter vs Clippers

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Lue’s first technical came after arguing as Draymond Green fouled Mason Plumlee. The second came as Brandin Podziemski was knocked to the ground by Plumlee, who was also tagged with a flagrant 1 foul.

Can Tyronn Lue be the coach of the year?

As we gear up for the latter part of the season, expectations are high for an intensified competition. As teams now compete for a shot at the playoffs, favorites in the coaching department can emerge soon. Until then, the break by the All-Star Weekend offers a moment to reflect on the contenders. Surprisingly, Tyronn Lue is among the top four coaches with high odds of taking it home.

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Watch This Story – “Focused” Paul George Details Clippers’ Plans at the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline

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The Clippers kicked off the season with optimism and results but hit a rough patch after integrating James Harden into the lineup. After enduring a string of losses, Tyronn Lue successfully navigated the challenge of balancing egos and stardom among multiple superstars. Now, the Clippers showcase a well-balanced offense, leveraging each player’s strengths, and positioning themselves as one of the top teams in the league.

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports who discovered his basketball passion through the dynamic between Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Years later, Kobe Bryant reignited his love, transforming him into an extensive contributor who savors the matches, covers games live, analyzes post-game pressers, and reports on injuries. With his stories, he aims at making readers feel the intense drama unfolding on the court every day.
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Edited by:

Vishav