NBA fines Oubre, Nurse $50K each for ref outburst

The NBA announced Philadelphia 76ers wing Kelly Oubre Jr. and head coach Nick Nurse were each fined $50,000 for verbally abusing officials after their 108-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Nurse and Oubre were visibly upset with the officiating crew after referees elected not to call a foul on the latter's layup attempt at the buzzer despite contact from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Both Oubre and his head coach had to be held back by 76ers personnel as the two angrily complained to officials while the Clippers celebrated the narrow win.

Nurse was deemed to have aggressively pursued game officials, while Oubre directed an "obscene gesture" toward them.

The 76ers coach doubled down on his assessment postgame, arguing, "There was enough contact to call."

Official Kevin Scott told Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday that "a foul should have been ruled," as George's jump was not completely vertical. The NBA released its last-two-minute report Thursday, corroborating an incorrect non-call.

Wednesday's loss was Philadelphia's fourth in its last five games and dropped the team to 6-9 in March. The 76ers, now 39-34 on the year, currently sit eighth in the East, putting them on course to go through the play-in tournament.