NBA admits refs missed two crucial calls late in Kings’ win over Jazz originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The NBA announced on Sunday that the Kings took advantage of two turnovers in the final two minutes of their 121-117 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday at Ora 1 Center.
The first missed call came when Utah had the ball leading 116-115 with 1:23 left in regulation and nine seconds on the shot clock. Kings guard Jordan McLaughlin tripped Jazz Center Lauri Markkanen above the arc, causing the 7-footer to fall out of the play – a foul should have been called.
The Jazz were in the bonus, so if a foul had been called, free throws would have been made. Instead, Utah guard Jordan Clarkson rushed a 3-point shot that just hit the backboard with five seconds on the 24-second shot clock, and Sacramento gained possession after guard Kevin Huerter collected the batted ball.
“As Markkanen comes around the screen, McLaughlin moves to his space and lower leg contact occurs which trips Markkanen and causes him to stumble to the sideline,” said the link in the last two-minute report.
McLaughlin hit a layup three-pointer on the next possession to give the Kings a 118-116 lead.
The second missed call came on the Jazz’s next possession.
With 50.3 seconds left in regulation and nine seconds on the shot clock, Utah guard Collin Sexton dribbled over the arc and around a teammate’s screen John Collins when Sacramento star De’Aaron Fox poked the ball free from behind for a steal.
However, the NBA ruled that Fox made contact with Sexton’s dribble hand and prevented him from retaining possession.
“Fox reaches around Sexton and makes direct contact with his left arm, which causes Sexton to lose control of his dribbling as he drives around the pick,” the league stated in the latest two-minute report.
Ironically, Fox would pull up a layup on Sexton after the ball changed hands and sink one of two free throws to give the Kings a 119-116 lead.
Sacramento historically hasn’t had the best luck with officials. But the Kings will take what they can, especially after a waste Fox’s team recordcareer-high 60-point game on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sacramento had to win either way after Fox scored 49, so the team probably isn’t upset about the missed calls.
