The Minnesota Timberwolves and a controversial ruling on a game-tying shot attempt spoiled LeBron James’ 39th birthday.
With the Los Angeles Lakers trailing the Timberwolves by three points and the game clock dwindling, James caught an outlet pass from Anthony Davis, took a side-step and launched what appeared to be a game-tying 3-pointer.
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As the shot splashed in with 3.1 seconds left, the referees quickly ruled the jumper as a 2-pointer, claiming James’ right toe touched the 3-point line. Upon replay review, the referees confirmed the call, leaving the Lakers down by one point and forced to foul. The ruling infuriated James and the Lakers, who pointed to a freeze-frame of James’ foot appearing to be behind the line.
LeBron James was beside himself after referees called his potentially game-tying shot a two-pointer.
Was it the right call?
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The Lakers had 1.4 seconds and a final possession to tie or win the game, but ultimately didn’t get a shot off, losing to the Timberwolves 108-106 at the Target Center on Saturday. Los Angeles dropped to 17-16 and just 3-7 since winning the In-Season Tournament on Dec. 9.
“I mean, it’s obviously a 3,” James told reporters in front of his locker after the game. “My foot is behind the line. You can see the space in between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. You can clearly see the wood on the floor. There’s a space in between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. Stevie Wonder can see that, champ.”
When asked if referees had an explanation for the call, James said the ruling came from the NBA’s Replay Center in Secaucus, N.J.
“Somebody over there eating a ham sandwich or (something) made the call,” James said.
According to the pool report, NBA referee and crew chief Tony Brothers said “the play was ruled a two-point field goal on the floor during live play. After video review, there wasn’t clear and conclusive evidence to overturn it from a two to a three, and that’s why it stood as a two-point field goal.”
James’ near-3-pointer almost completed a wild Lakers comeback. They trailed by seven points with 36 seconds remaining before scoring four points off a James and-1 and a Jaden McDaniels technical foul, and then Mike Conley missing a semi-contested 3-pointer, leading to James’ transition jumper.
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“It’s super frustrating in the sense of what the hell we got replay for?” James said.
“What do we have replay for if even the replay gets it wrong? Who’s a part of the replay center? Like, we got robots in there that are making the Teslas? That’s what’s going on? If you don’t see that … That is clear. That is clear. Even if the shot is released and my foot’s on the line afterwards, it doesn’t matter. Once the shot is out of my hand, no matter where my foot lands, it’s from when I shot the ball.
“And it’s clear. Everyone can see it. So it doesn’t make sense. And that’s a tie game, and we’re fighting for our asses playing the No. 1 team in the West. So that was frustrating.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham disagreed with the call both live and after looking at the replay.
“The view I had, I thought it was a clear-cut 3,” Ham said. “Our guys on the sideline replayed it. We thought it was a good 3. I just saw a still shot here a couple of seconds ago that definitely looked like a 3. … Although I disagree, you have to live with it.”
Davis echoed a similar perspective, also noting that the referees said the decision came from the NBA Replay Center.
“It’s a 3,” Davis said. “A clear-cut 3. Foot was behind the line. We talked to the officials and they said it was the replay center. … It’s tough. Tough one, for sure.”
After intentionally fouling Anthony Edwards, Edwards split the free throws, giving James and the Lakers a chance to tie the game with a 2-pointer or win it with a 3-pointer. James struggled to split a trap along the baseline from Edwards and Rudy Gobert and didn’t get a shot off before the buzzer.
“I thought I had a quick go but when I turned, Rudy was right there,” James said. “So I tried to duck under it. … I kind of misread that. I gotta do a better job. I’ve been in that situation before. I just gotta do a better job of knowing the time. I could’ve caught it and shot it right away.”
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Davis led the Lakers with 33 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks in 39 minutes. James had 26 points, six assists and three steals in 39 minutes. The rest of the non-Davis/James Lakers combined to shoot 30 percent from the floor.
The Lakers play the Pelicans in New Orleans on the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday.
Required reading
- Buha: Lakers’ new starting lineup makes no sense and must change before it’s too late
- Best NBA photos from December: LeBron James, Giannis, Luka Dončić and more
(Photo: David Sherman / NBAE via Getty Images)
Jovan Buha is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Los Angeles Lakers. Before joining the company, Jovan was an NBA editor at ESPN.com. His prior stops also include ESPN Los Angeles, FOX Sports and Grantland. Jovan is a Los Angeles native and USC alum. Follow Jovan on Twitter @jovanbuha
