NBA admits refs missed crucial calls during Kings’ OT loss to Raptors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Kings lost an overtime thriller to the Toronto Raptors, but Sacramento was robbed of a chance to win in regulation by a missed call late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 131-128 defeat at Scotiabank Arena.
The NBA has released its official Last Two Minute Report on Sunday, revealing officials missed a crucial traveling call on Raptors forward RJ Barrett with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
“Barrett (TOR) repositions his pivot foot on the ground to create space from the defender while in possession of the ball,” the report stated.
With the Kings trailing 119-118, Barrett’s trip is overlooked by officials instead triggered a pair of intentional fouls by Keegan Murray, which put the Toronto forward at the free throw line rather than giving the ball back to Sacramento.
Instead of keeping the ball down just one point with a chance to hold on for the final shot, the Kings instead didn’t get possession back until after Barrett split his free throws, with the would-be game-winning tip-in by Domantas Sabonis. overtime rather than seal victory.
Making matters worse, the report also acknowledged a crucial missed call that went against Sacramento at a critical moment in the overtime period against Toronto.
With 1:01 remaining in overtime and the Kings in possession of the ball trailing 126-125, Raptors guard Gradey Dick made contact with De’Aaron Fox as the guard drove to the basket. The officials did not rule foul on the play that resulted in a Fox turnover, which was an incorrect assessment by the report.
“Dick (TOR) raises his left hand up as he tries to line up in Fox’s (SAC) lane and contact occurs with Fox’s head/face which affects his SQBR (Speed, Balance, Speed, Pace) as he drives. “
Rather than Fox going to the free throw line with a chance to give Sacramento the lead, Toronto instead got the ball back on a mishandled steal by Dick, which set up Barrett with a chance to extend the Raptors’ lead to three in the making. two free attempts.
That four-point swing proved massive, with the Kings eventually falling to a three-point deficit when the clock finally hit zero.
