Fuming coach whacks ‘disgusting’ NBA issue

Jokic finished with 26 points despite a 4-of-12 showing from the floor. He set a career-high with his 18 made free throws. In all, the Nuggets were 26 of 32 from the free-throw line.

“I have no problem with the officials themselves,” Kerr said after the game.

“I have a problem with the way we are legislating defence out of the game. That’s what we’re doing.

“The way we’re teaching officials, we’re just enabling to players to (fool) their way to the foul line. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting.

“It was just baiting refs into calls. But the refs have to make those calls because that’s how they’re taught.”

The combination of Kevon Looney and rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis took turns trying to contain Jokic, who didn’t have his customary touch around the basket. Jokic made up for it by being more aggressive and getting to the line.

“He gets fouled a lot. He gets beat up down there,” explained Jamal Murray, who scored a game-high 28 points.

“It’s hard to call every foul, I understand. They can only do so much.”

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Kerr said that players are “smart in this league. Over the last decade, they’ve gotten smarter and smarter. We have enabled the players and they’re taking full advantage and it’s a parade to the free-throw line. It’s disgusting to watch.”

Stephen Curry weighed in on the topic, too.

“When there’s physicality, it’s tough because it’s inconsistent at times on either side,” said Curry.

“A night like tonight, you feel like there’s physicality on one side and then kind of ticky-tack on the other and then they get into the bonus and it changes the (complexion) of the game. It’s not like we don’t foul. I’m not saying that.

“It was tough tonight, slowed the whole game down. (Jokic) made every free throw and changed the momentum, played into their hands.”