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After Sunday's game between the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors ended with complete controversy, the NBA has responded.
Terrence Ross‘ game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer was waived off after a review was made following a timekeeping error. The referees' decision left Raptors' players, fans, and coaches (especially head coach Dwane Casey) livid as another loss was added to their season record.
Many took to social media and gave their take on the bizarre ending to the game, but now the NBA has spoken and released a very thorough statement about it to put an end to the issue once and for all.
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“After review at the league office, we have concluded that the end of the game was officiated correctly by NBA rules. We reviewed all aspects of the final 27.4 seconds and below is a summary of our evaluation.
“Toronto inbounded the ball with 2.4 seconds remaining in the game, and the clock did not start when the pass was deflected by Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins. Per the NBA’s precision timing system, the clock can be started by either the referees or the clock operator. The referees noticed the clock malfunction immediately which triggered a replay review under rule 13.1.a.5, which states that a review must occur if ‘a play concludes (i) with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of any period or (ii) at a point when the game officials believe that actual time may have expired in any period; and the officials are reasonably certain that the game clock malfunctioned during the play.”
The league also cited another rule which allows the Replay Center to take charge in determining how much time was left on the clock. They also reviewed the whole final possession starting with still 26.4 seconds in the game.
“Per rule 13.2.e.1, the Replay Center was then tasked with determining ‘the proper time (if any) on the game clock following the clock malfunction by determining how much time on the game clock actually expired.’ To determine how much time actually expired, Replay Center referee Zach Zarba used a digital timer on the Replay Center screen. The determination was that 2.5 seconds expired, thus negating the basket.
“We also reviewed the question surrounding the time left on the clock for Sacramento’s final possession. That possession started with 26.4 seconds remaining on the game clock since that is when Cousins secured possession of the rebound after a missed free throw. The subsequent shot clock violation on the Kings’ possession therefore left 2.4 seconds remaining in the game.”
This will certainly leave a bad taste in the mouth of the Toronto Raptors. It is still unclear if the team will file a formal protest or not, but as it currently stands, the win will remain with the Kings.
