Los Angeles Lakers fans were left fuming after LeBron James was clearly fouled by Jayson Tatum on what would have been the game-deciding play against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.
With the score tied at 105 and just seconds remaining on the game clock, LeBron drove right past a slew of Celtics defenders to get a clean look at the rim. He came up short on what would have been the game-winning lay-up, but clearly got slapped on the arm by Tatum on the play.
Was LeBron James fouled on the final play here by Jayson Tatum? 🤔pic.twitter.com/y8P0LT0hZb
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 29, 2023
Lakers fans were blowing their top on Twitter after the play that even had LeBron James in disbelief and Patrick Beverley showing the referees a camera that captured their egregious mistake.
Patrick Beverley took a professional camera to show the officials the missed foul call on LeBron James in the final seconds of Lakers-Celtics.
He got hit with a technical foul for it.pic.twitter.com/yNNf7vnOc9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 29, 2023
LEBRON JUST GOT HACKED ON NATIONAL TV ON A GAME-WINNING ATTEMPT. ATROCIOUS.
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) January 29, 2023
What does Lebron have to do to get a call???? pic.twitter.com/ijTXlq1N7P
— Ricky B. (@MrRickySpanish) January 29, 2023
I hope LeBron airs out these refs in the postgame interview, he can take the fine idc
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) January 29, 2023
Call out the refs and the league in your postgame interview. Enough is enough with these refs. @KingJames
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) January 29, 2023
Even Celtics fan and NBA reporter Kevin O'Connor had to call out the “obvious” blown call against LeBron that would have given the Lakers the win with just one free throw make from James.
Terrible officiating down the stretch in Lakers-Celtics. What’s the point of having replay if that obvious foul by the Celtics on the LeBron layup can’t be reviewed?
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 29, 2023
Reggie Miller was upset, too. The former NBA star lamented some of the refs' strikes against him as he watched the Lakers lose in overtime after not getting the foul call they deserved.
It was NON CALLS like that as a former player, Tatum on LeBron, that used to drive me CRAZY!! 6 damn eyes out there and the officials swallow their whistles.. That baseline official had a clear view of it, MAKE THE CALL.. @NBA
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) January 29, 2023
Just before that play, the Lakers appeared to have the game in hand with a three-point lead with just 14 seconds left to play. They were able to force the miss but gave up a game-tying bucket plus the foul on Jaylen Brown that led to that point.
With every win crucial for LeBron James and co. to keep pace in a crowded Western Conference playoff race, losing this one hurts a little bit extra.
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