As the sports world turns its attention to the NFC Championship Game on Sunday evening, the National Basketball Referees Association released a statement on the horrific foul call on LeBron James.
With sports fans focused on the Philadelphia Eagles’ blowout against the San Francisco 49ers, the league’s official Twitter account offered its own take on the call. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar appeared to be hit on the hand while leaving for a last-second deal with the Boston Celtics on Saturday. There was no offense to the game.
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“Just like everyone else, judges make mistakes,” his tweet read. “We had one at the end of last night’s game and that was gut-wrenching. This game is very heavy and will cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.”
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (6) misses a shot against Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum late in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game.
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
With 4 seconds left in the game at 105-105, James drove to his left and drove to the basket. Surrounded by three Celtics defenders, James went to the basket with his left hand and was hit on the arm by Jayson Tatum.
James missed the event and there was no foul on the game. The Lakers superstar was beside himself with no call and fell to the floor in disbelief. Patrick Beverley brought a camera to show the judge what he once missed. He suffered a technical foul.
“I don’t understand. I don’t understand what we’re doing, and I watch basketball every day,” James said after the game. “I watch the games every day and I don’t see it happening to anyone, it’s strange.”
January 28, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
(Paul Rutherford-USA Today Sports)
LeBron James surprised by bad call in Lakers loss: ‘I don’t understand what we’re doing’
Anthony Davis put it more clearly.
“He ruined it. He destroyed it. It’s obvious,” Davis said, via the Los Angeles Times. “It’s bulls— but at the end of the day, it’s just, like, unacceptable. And I guarantee nothing will happen to the refs. We have to cheat tonight, honestly.”
“That’s an obvious foul. Pat got all the balls, I think. Brown – Jaylen Brown. They call it foul. And Brown got hit in the arm. [and they don’t]. It is not acceptable to tell the truth. The references were bad. They were bad tonight.”
January 28, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
(Paul Rutherford-USA Today Sports)
The game goes to overtime and Boston wins 125-121.
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A refereeing error for the Lakers could cost them a game they could have put in the win column. Los Angeles is at least fighting for a playoff spot. The Lakers fell to 23-27 with the loss.