LaVine supports Boylen after double ejection
The double coach ejection is a move rarely seen in the NBA, but Bulls boss Jim Boylen helped make it happen late Friday night at the Staples Center.
Boylen and Clippers coach Doc Rivers were ejected at the same time late in the third quarter after jawing at each other on the sideline. The Clippers eventually won the game 128-121, handing the Bulls their fourth straight loss.
A couple of hard screens set by Clippers backup center Montrezl Harrell precipitated the ejections. In the first half, Ryan Arcidiacono didn't see the screen coming, got hit hard, crumpled to the floor and didn't return to the game in the second half.
When it happened again in the second half against Shaq Harrison, the referees called a foul on Harrell and Boylen had some choice words for Rivers along the sideline.
The first screen appeared to be more of a foul, as Harrell lowered his shoulder and struck Arcidiacono in the head. Boylen claimed the officials told him at halftime they missed the call.
"They set another moving screen at half court that they called an offensive foul and I already got a guy sitting in the locker room from the bang he took in the first half," Boylen said after the game, according to bulls.com. "Now they go after my other point guard with a moving screen and I don't appreciate it. I let them know. I don't appreciate that. I let everybody know.
"I don't know how Doc got involved. He didn't think it was a moving foul. I've got no issue with Doc. I've got no problem with Doc. He's fighting for his team, I am fighting for my team. I'm worried about my group and protecting my group."
Before leaving the court, Boylen made a point to slap hands with every Bulls players on the floor or bench.
"What Jim did, I personally respect that a lot," said Zach LaVine, who led the Bulls with 31 points. "He really cares about us and he's going to fight for us. That shows his true character the way he feels about us."
After the game, Arcidiacono gave his version of what happened. It's not clear if he'll have to go through concussion protocol before returning to the court.
"I got screened pretty good and that was that, took me a little bit to get up," he said. "I felt fine the rest of the half. Then came back in the locker room and wasn't feeling too well, not feeling the best. Got checked out by the Clippers doctors. I felt better within like 20, 30 minutes being in the locker room. I think it was just like a precaution thing our medical staff wanted me too sit out the rest of the game.
"That's just the way they play. If you are going to pick them up full you are going to set some hard screens. That's probably the hardest hit I've taken my whole career. I'm all good now."
Rivers, a Maywood native, stated the obvious in his post game news conference. The Bulls should have warned their guards screens were coming, especially when they're pressuring the ball in the backcourt.
"No idea why I was ejected, I really don't," Rivers said. "I was talking to the ref, I said basically that was a clean pick. All of the sudden I hear Boylen yelling at me saying that we were dirty or whatever because I guess in the first half, we set another legal pick and one of their guys got hurt."
Crew chief Jason Phillips told a pool reporter the coaches were told to knock it off after receiving technical fouls, continued to argue and received second technicals, which is an automatic ejection.
The Bulls played well Friday, other than an awful third quarter when they were outscored 45-21. It was the most points the Bulls have given up in a quarter this season.
• Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings, 5 p.m. at the Golden 1 Center
TV: WGN; Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Kings (33-35) had to fly across the country after playing a back-to-back in Boston and Philadelphia on Thursday and Friday. Sacramento has lost nine of its last 12 games to essentially drop out of playoff contention. ... The Kings' young nucleus has been playing well, though, with SG Buddy Hield averaging 21.0 points and second-year PG De'Aaron Fox at 17.5 points and 7.2 assists. Rookie PF Marvin Bagley III returned to action Thursday after missing two weeks with a knee injury. ... Since beating the Bulls at the UC 108-89 on Dec. 10, the Kings added former Dallas SF Harrison Barnes (14.3 ppg). ... The Bulls have won two of their last three in Sacramento.
Next: Phoenix Suns, 9 p.m. Monday at Talking Stick Resort Arena
- Mike McGraw