The officiating took center stage during the Houston Rockets’ controversial 120-111 loss to the Sacramento Kings in Tuesday’s NBA Cup West Group A clash. Houston had been on a strong run, winning 10 of its last 12 games and had an undefeated 3-0 record in NBA Cup play before the defeat. The loss ended their chance to clinch the Western Conference’s top in-season tournament seed.
The game was marked by frustration over what many, including Rockets coach Ime Udoka and star center Alperen Sengun, felt were missed or questionable calls. As the game progressed, especially in the fourth quarter, the Rockets found themselves facing both a tough battle on the scoreboard and with officiating. Their frustration boiled over when Udoka and Sengun were ejected for heated exchanges with officials over missed calls.
One particularly contentious moment came in the third quarter when Jalen Green, after taking an elbow to the face from Kings forward Jae Crowder, was called for a common foul. Despite Green bleeding from the contact, the play was not reviewed for a potential flagrant foul, which led to strong criticism from Tari Eason’s mother, Teroya Eason. She shared the incident on social media and blasted the referees, demanding attention be paid to Sacramento’s defensive tactics.
After the game, Ime Udoka did not hold back in his criticism of the officiating, expressing frustration with what he saw as inconsistent and biased calls. He pointed out the contrast between minor fouls being called while more obvious ones, like those on Sengun, went unnoticed. Udoka revealed that his confrontation with the referees, where he told them to “get some f**king glasses,” led to his ejection.
Despite the heated loss, the Rockets (15-7) advanced to the NBA Cup quarterfinals, where they will face the Golden State Warriors (12-8) on Dec. 11.
