Chris Paul Calls Out Referee: “This Might Not Be for Her”

A third-quarter technical called against the Clippers guard during a quick inbounds play was one of five on the night for Los Angeles

Clippers guard Chris Paul was critical of referee Lauren Holtkamp after Thursday's 105-94 loss to the Cavaliers that featured a barrage of technical fouls, including one in the third quarter against the All-Star.

Paul was assessed the technical foul by Holtkamp, who worked with officials Ken Mauer and Eric Lewis, with 10:17 left in the third following a free throw by Cleveland. The Clippers were attempting to quickly inbound the ball after a Cavaliers' freethrow when Holtkamp stepped in.

Paul questioned her and was slapped with the technical.

"The tech I got was ridiculous," Paul said. "That's terrible. There's no way that can be a technical. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court. When we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh.' I said, 'Why uh-uh?' and she gave me a technical. That's ridiculous.

"If that's the case, this might not be for her."

It was part of a bizarre night in which Los Angeles was handed five technicals -- four in the third quarter, three of them in a 52-second span.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers also received a technical and forward Matt Barnes was ejected in the third by Lewis after getting his second "T." Barnes got tangled up with Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, shoved him and got the technical. He got the second one when he complained about teammate Jamal Crawford getting called for a charging foul and told Lewis, "Don't give them the game."

Barnes is tied for the league lead with 11 technicals. He also has been ejected twice.

"It keeps happening," Barnes said. "Some of these I earn, some of them I don't."

Paul, head of the NBA Players Association, and Barnes weren't the only Clippers critical of the officiating during post-game interviews. Clippers forward DeAndre Jordan let out a yell after grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring over Love.

"I guess she thought I was talking to her," Jordan said of a technical whistled against him by Holtkamp in the third quarter. "We talked about it. She said that she thought I was talking to her. She made a call and I talked to the other refs and they disagreed with it. Hopefully it will be rescinded. We'll see."

Holtkamp, one of two active female officials in the NBA, is in her first full year in the NBA. She previously worked for six seasons in the NBA Development League and officiating games in WNBA, college and international competitions.

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