NBA Confirms Main Referee Errors That Doomed Sixers in Game 2 Loss vs. Knicks

(Photo : Sarah Stier/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Tyrese Maxey (#0) of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles as Donte DiVincenzo (#0) and Isaiah Hartenstein (#55) of the New York Knicks defend in the course of the first half in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2024 in New York City.

The NBA has acknowledged that it neglected a number of essential calls in the course of the tightly contested Game 2 between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers final Monday, April 22, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Knicks secured a slim victory, 104-101, after rallying from a five-point deficit within the closing minute with essential three-pointers from Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo.

However, the NBA’s Last Two-Minute Report for the sport revealed that 4 essential calls had been missed within the closing minute of play, any of which may have had a considerable impact on the sport’s end result.

At 1:14, Knicks ahead OG Anunoby’s violation of the defensive 3-second rule went unnoticed. Just moments later, with 34.7 seconds remaining, Sixers star Joel Embiid’s foul on DiVincenzo was not known as, leading to Brunson’s preliminary three.

Read extra: Former Player JJ Redick Takes Huge Step in Securing First NBA Head Coaching Job With Charlotte Hornets

Then, at 27.0 seconds left earlier than a Sixers inbound play, Brunson’s motion of pulling Sixers star Tyrese Maxey’s jersey ought to have resulted in a foul name.

A missed foul name led to the Knicks game-winner

Finally, with solely 24.9 seconds on the clock, Knicks guard Josh Hart’s motion ahead into Maxey’s area induced him to lose steadiness, fall to the ground, and commit the turnover, resulting in DiVicenzo’s go-ahead three.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse additionally expressed frustration, claiming he known as a timeout that the referees didn’t acknowledge throughout this sequence.

However, the NBA later said that the officers’ choice to not grant the timeout was right as a result of the Sixers didn’t have clear possession of the ball.