A heart-stopping finish with major playoff implications was marred by a critical NBA Officials missed call in the final seconds of the Los Angeles Clippers' 108-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
The missed call denied the 76ers a potential game-winning free throw attempt. Referee Kevin Scott admitted the error in a pool report after the game. Replays showed Clippers' Paul George made contact with Kelly Oubre Jr. as he drove to the basket just before the buzzer.
"In real-time, the crew interpreted the play as the defender jumping vertically," Scott explained. "However, upon video review, we observed a slight movement to the left by George, and an NBA Officials missed call resulted in a no-call."
The missed call would have sent Oubre to the line with a chance to win the game with 0.2 seconds remaining. Understandably frustrated, both Oubre and 76ers coach Nick Nurse confronted the officiating crew after the final buzzer.
"There was definitely contact," Nurse said, referencing other calls during the game. "Enough for a clear NBA Officials missed call in my opinion. That's basketball, but it's certainly frustrating."
Oubre echoed Nurse's sentiment, suggesting a potential officiating imbalance. "They weren't calling similar contact on our end," he said. "This NBA Officials missed call hurts even more considering the situation."
Despite the missed call, Oubre displayed sportsmanship by apologizing for his initial reaction.
"In the heat of the moment, things get emotional," he acknowledged. "We all make mistakes, and I want to apologize for losing my cool."
This loss is particularly significant for the 76ers, currently battling for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The team has struggled in the absence of star center Joel Embiid, who is recovering from knee surgery. Embiid, averaging an impressive 35.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, has been out since late January.
The 76ers' record reflects Embiid's immense impact. They are 10-17 without him and a dominant 26-8 with him on the court. Coach Nick Nurse remains optimistic about Embiid's return before the playoffs. "There's a good chance he'll be back," Nurse said.
The NBA Officials missed call will undoubtedly spark debate and scrutiny. With the playoffs approaching, both the 76ers and the league will be eager for a strong finish to the regular season, but questions linger about the impact of such missed calls on close games.
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Image credit of AP