NBA
During the fourth quarter of last night’s Rockets-Spurs game, with the Houston Rockets up 102-89, All-Star guard and former MVP James Harden slammed home a breakaway dunk for two-points to give the Rockets a 15 point lead.
However, in truly bizarre fashion, as Harden finished his dunk, the ball looped back up and out, appearing as though it never went through the hoop at all.
This is the craziest "missed" dunk I've ever seen. Crazy, because James Harden didn't miss it. Refs missed the call. Rockets lost in OT. 😬https://t.co/uNkD5ez32Z
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 4, 2019
Because all professional sports referees seem to be subpar these days, the officials did not notice that Harden actually converted the dunk and did not award the Rockets those two points.
Lo and behold, the Spurs would go on to not only force overtime, but they’d go on to win the game outright by a score of 135 to 133 after two overtimes.
Now, following the undeserved loss, the Rockets — clearly not willing to accept a defeat due to an inadequate official — are considering filing a protest if the NBA League Office does not take action on their own, according to ESPN NBA reporter Tim MacMahon.
According to MacMahon, the Rockets are “optimistic” that the league will award them the win or order that the final 7:50 be played at a later date.
A Rockets source is optimistic that the NBA office will take action regarding James Harden’s dunk that didn’t count, either awarding the win to Houston or ordering that the final 7:50 be replayed because the Rockets outscored the Spurs in regulation. The Rockets believe a protest might not be necessary but will prepare to file one if the league office does not take action. [via Tim MacMahon]
… protest might not be necessary but will prepare to file one if the league office does not take action.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 4, 2019
With the Western Conference as wide open as it’s been in recent years, it’s understandable that the Rockets are doing whatever they can to make sure they can rack up the wins, especially when they deserve them.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com