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The NBA released its Last 2 Minute report for Game 2 of the series between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks on Tuesday, and it admitted several critical errors.
The report states that Knicks guard Josh Hart fouled Sixers star Tyrese Maxey with 24.9 seconds remaining on the clock.
A foul was not called and the sequence ended up with the Knicks stealing the ball and hitting an eventual game-winning 3-pointer.
The NBA Last 2 Minute report finds that Josh Hart did foul Tyrese Maxey on the inbounds pass, leading to New York stealing the ball ahead of their game winning basket. pic.twitter.com/L96QTX49Mh
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) April 23, 2024
“Hart (NYK) steps forward into Maxey’s (PHI) space and initiates lower body contact that causes Maxey to lose his balance and fall to the floor.”
Maxey then attempted to pass the ball while on the floor. New York stole the ball and Donte DiVincenzo hit the second of two 3-point attempts.
While the admission is nice, it doesn’t help Philadelphia. The Sixers are still down 2-0 in the series. And the referees from the contest are unlikely to face any sort of repercussions.
So the league is essentially saying “oops, oh well.’
But it gets worse!
The league also stated that Jalen Brunson fouled Maxey prior to the inbounding of the ball.
AND THERE’S MORE!
It also deemed that Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse should have been awarded a timeout in the sequence.
The NBA also finds that:
– Brunson did pull on Maxey's jersey, and it should have been called.
– Maxey's push-off on Hart was marginal and should not have been called.
– Nurse should have gotten a timeout. pic.twitter.com/eEc5c2yE3u— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) April 23, 2024
That’s a lot of VERY critical screw-ups in an important situation.
Philadelphia previously announced it would file a grievance with the league over officiating in both Games 1 and 2. But it doesn’t much matter at this point. What’s done it done.
The Sixers now return home in hopes of leveling the series against New York. But if Philadelphia wants to advance in the NBA playoffs, it has to win four of the next five games.
That’s a tall task for any team.
Though 76ers superstar Joel Embiid remains undeterred, promising that his team will come back to win the series.