The Controversial Ending to Game 2: NBA Admits Missed Calls in Knicks’ Victory over 76ers
It was a wild and chaotic ending to Game 2 of the first-round playoff series between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks pulled off a miraculous 104-101 victory, but the NBA has now admitted that there were multiple missed calls in the final moments of the game.
In its Last Two Minute Report, the league ruled that 76ers coach Nick Nurse called for a timeout that was not granted by the referees, and that Tyrese Maxey was fouled multiple times during a defining sequence that led to a turnover and ultimately, the Knicks’ game-winning shot.
The report stated that Jalen Brunson grabbed Maxey’s jersey before the ball was inbounded, and that Josh Hart then bumped Maxey as he caught the pass, causing him to fall to the ground. Maxey then committed a turnover, leading to Donte DiVincenzo’s game-winning shot.
76ers star Joel Embiid expressed frustration with the missed calls, saying, “That’s on the league. That’s on the NBA. That’s on the frigging referees. I hate to put the game on them. But I am sure the two-minute report is going to come out and we are going to see what happened.”
Maxey, on the other hand, chose to focus on his own mistakes and how he could have done better in the situation. He acknowledged that he should have been stronger with the ball and called a timeout when he fell to the ground.
The report also revealed two other missed calls: an Embiid foul on DiVincenzo and a defensive three seconds violation by Knicks forward OG Anunoby. However, the NBA stated that these missed calls did not change the ultimate result of the game.
While the league has admitted the mistakes, the 76ers will not be able to get the end of the game replayed. The Knicks attempted to protest a similar situation earlier this season, but their protest was denied as they could not prove a misapplication of the playing rules.
Despite the controversy, the Knicks now hold a 2-0 lead in the series and will look to continue their momentum in Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. It remains to be seen if the missed calls will have any impact on the rest of the series, but one thing is for sure: this game will be talked about for a long time to come.
Summary:
The NBA has admitted to multiple missed calls in the final moments of Game 2 between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The controversial ending saw the Knicks pull off a miraculous victory, but the league has acknowledged that there were fouls and a missed timeout that could have changed the outcome of the game. Despite the controversy, the Knicks now hold a 2-0 lead in the series and will look to continue their momentum in Games 3 and 4.
