Referees made multiple late officiating errors in Monday’s Game 2 won by the New York Knicks over the Philadelphia 76ers, according to the NBA’s last-two-minute report released Tuesday.
Per the report, incorrect non-calls included a personal foul with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter in which Jalen Brunson pulled Tyrese Maxey’s jersey, and another personal foul in which Josh Hart initiated contact with Maxey that caused Maxey to lose his balance and fall to the floor with 25 seconds left.
The Knicks clinched the stunning win after consecutive 3-pointers — one by Brunson before those non-calls, then a game-winner by the Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo after Maxey’s fall trying to catch an inbounds pass. The basket put New York ahead with 13 seconds left and the Knicks went on to win 104-101 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
DIVINCENZO AND BRUNSON DRILL BACK-TO-BACK 3’S AND THE KNICKS TAKE THE LEAD! 🔥
13.1 REMAINING IN GAME 2 ON TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/x0PwLjhsbw
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024
Additionally, the L2M report also references an attempt by 76ers coach Nick Nurse to call a timeout in the final 24 seconds. The report states: “An attempt to call a timeout by Coach Nurse (PHI) during this play [in which Hart steals the ball from Maxey] is neither recognized nor granted by the officials; the timeout request is simultaneous to Hart making contact with the ball and PHI not having possession.”
A 76ers spokesperson said Monday that the team intended to file a complaint with the NBA regarding the officiating in Games 1 and 2, claiming the team was “disadvantaged by two calls in Game 1 per the league’s (last two minute) report.”
The team said it would argue that it should have been granted a timeout after Brunson’s 3-pointer with 27 seconds left, which made the score 101-99.
“Unacceptable,” Sixers star Joel Embiid said Monday of the officiating. “Tyrese got fouled a couple of times. We just had the same thing happen against Miami, with Tyler Herro. That’s just unacceptable, to put us in that situation. Yeah. That’s f—ing unacceptable. And to lose a game like this, especially in the playoffs.”
Nurse also said he called timeout.
“The referee looked right at me, ignored me. (The ball) went into Tyrese. I called timeout again. Then, the melee started. I guess I (should) have to run out onto the floor to make sure to get his attention.”
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(Photo: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)
