Rockets Coach Ime Udoka Faces Fine After Blasting Refs; Tari Eason Gets Into It With Fan

The Houston Rockets have been on a roll, but things boiled over in Sacramento on Tuesday night, with head coach Ime Udoka and center Alperen Sengun both getting ejected late in the fourth quarter.

Frustration with the officiating had been simmering throughout the game, and Udoka let it all out when he stormed onto the court to confront referee John Goble with less than two minutes left.

Udoka’s frustration didn’t end there. Speaking with reporters after the game, the Rockets’ head coach didn’t hold back, delivering a fiery critique of the officiating.

“Missed calls, blatant missed calls right in front of you,” Udoka said. “You’re calling ticky-tack moving screens and little [expletive] like that and then you don’t want to call the obvious ones right in front of you. … Get some [expletive] glasses or open your eyes.”

If you thought his outburst was about rallying the troops, Udoka made it clear that wasn’t the case.

“It wasn’t even about that, honestly,” he said. “Take your sensitivity and emotions out of it and call the game the right way. … They were missing calls all night.”

This fiery display will almost certainly result in a fine from the league, but Udoka wasn’t alone in stirring up controversy.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, forward Tari Eason had his own altercation with a Sacramento fan after the game. Eason reportedly threw a towel and shouted obscenities after being heckled, even attempting to confront the fan before security stepped in.

The drama overshadowed what has otherwise been a stellar stretch for Houston. The Rockets entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning 10 of their last 12 and sitting at 15-7, good for the No. 2 seed in the West.

For a team that has surged into contention, Tuesday’s meltdown might serve as a wake-up call — or a distraction. Either way, Udoka’s passion shows he’s all-in on keeping the Rockets competitive. And while the fines might sting, it’s clear he’s not afraid to fight for his team, even if it means taking on the referees head-on.

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