Kyle Lowry ejected after softly tossing ball to ref

We have a ref show in Portland!

Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry was ejected from Wednesday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers after receiving a second technical foul- for a ridiculous reason.

During a pause in play, Lowry simply tossed the basketball — underhanded — to referee Matt Kallio. The rookie ref then gave Lowry a technical foul, resulting in an automatic ejection.

This is what Kyle Lowry was ejected for.@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/PdIDKcrhyI

— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) January 6, 2022

I’ve just seen the most stunning ejection this season. A rookie ref just tossed Kyle Lowry for throwing the ball underhanded to him in a stoppage. Ball hit ref in the chest & wasn’t looking.

— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) January 6, 2022

Matt Kallio is a rookie official, and that was a rookie mistake. Maybe the worst ejection I've ever seen.

— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) January 6, 2022

The league owes Lowry and the Heat an apology and needs to do a much more serious job of disciplining — and in the case of rookies, at least *teaching* — officials for this nonsense. Have thicker skin and let the players play the game.

Fans aren’t spending hundreds of dollars for tickets and NBA League Pass to watch officiating.