NBA admits mistake after another officiating error proves costly to Kings in loss to Suns
The NBA admitted Monday that officials made yet another critical error that proved costly to the Kings in their 127-124 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at Golden 1 Center.
According to the Last Two Minute Report, Suns center Bismack Biyombo should have been called for an offensive foul for hooking Justin Holiday’s arm on the screen that freed Landry Shamet for a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime.
The Last Two Minute Report states: “Biyombo (PHX) clamps Holiday’s (SAC) arm during the screen and the contact affects his ability to defend.”
Holiday attempted to recover, but he couldn’t close out quickly enough to prevent Shandry from getting an open look from the corner. Shamet’s basket gave the Suns a 123-121 lead with 31.1 seconds remaining in overtime. The Kings never regained the lead.
This is the third time in about three weeks — and the fourth time since early January — the NBA has acknowledged officiating errors that might have cost the Kings a win.
The league previously admitted officials missed an illegal screen by Nikola Jokic that led to a go-ahead 3-pointer by Monte Morris in the Kings’ 115-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 26. Jokic would have fouled out if his illegal screen on De’Aaron Fox had been called correctly. Instead, Jokic sent Fox sprawling to the floor, giving Morris an uncontested 3-pointer that put the Nuggets up by three with 29.4 seconds to play.
A week later, the league admitted officials missed two calls during the same sequence late in the fourth quarter of Sacramento’s 114-113 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on March 5. The Kings were leading 110-109 when Fox brought the ball up the floor with just over a minute remaining. The Last Two Minute Report noted Jalen Brunson should have been called for a defensive three-second violation, which would have resulted in a technical foul. The report also stated Spencer Dinwiddie should have been called for a subsequent shooting foul that would have sent Fox to the line for two free throws.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 2:23 PM.
