Saturday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, a 125-121 Celtics victory in overtime, would have ended differently if NBA officials made a crucial call had gone the Lakers’ way.
Lakers forward LeBron James attempted the game-winning shot at the end of regulation and appeared to be fouled by Celtics guard Jason Taytum on his way to the hoop.
The Lakers players were incensed by the non-call by the refs. Lakers swingman Patrick Beverley bizarrely took a photographer’s camera and attempting to show it to one of the refs.
The outrage appears to have been justified, however, as the official Twitter account for the NBA refs copped to the error Sunday afternoon. “Like everyone else, referees make mistakes. We made one at the end of last night’s game and that is gut-wrenching for us. This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be,” the NBA Referees’ official account tweeted.
“Like everyone else, referees make mistakes,” the group said. “We made one at the end of last night’s game and that is gut-wrenching for us. This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.”
The admission will do no good for the Lakers, who fell to 23-27 on the season. That is good enough for last place in the NBA’s Pacific Division.
The Celtics, by comparison, moved to 36-15 on the season. They sit in first place in the NBA’s Atlantic Division.
[NBA refs]
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