Every night there are calls made by referees in NBA games that not everyone agrees with. But, rarely does a call get made that literally determines the outcome of the game and later on it is admitted that the call was wrong.
That is what happened on Monday night when the New York Knicks visited the Houston Rockets. In the waning seconds of the game, Aaron Holiday heaved up a shot from behind the 3-point line, which Jalen Brunson contested.
Referee Jacyn Goble called a foul on the play, which left the Knicks shocked. Upon viewing replays, it was hard to see where a foul occurred, especially one that would warrant the whistle being blown at that point in the game.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jacyn Goble, Ed Molloy, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks Updates
Holiday was rewarded with three free throws and he made the first two before intentionally missing the last. With only 0.3 seconds remaining on the lock, the game was deemed over upon his miss and rebound by the Knicks.
After the game, crew chief Ed Molloy admitted that the call Goble made was incorrect upon further review. While nothing could be done about it at the time, the Knicks are hoping the NBA can make a change after the fact.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Knicks have filed a protest with the NBA to dispute the outcome of the game, which was a 105-103 loss to the Rockets. On top of Molloy admitting error, the league’s two-minute report also acknowledged that the incorrect call was made.
Finding a time for the Knicks and Rockets to play the overtime period, which is the outcome New York is hoping for, has some challenges. The two teams have already played their two scheduled games against each other, so figuring out when to play, should the protest even be successful, would be tough.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jacyn Goble, Ed Molloy, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks Updates
There have been only six protests that have been successful in NBA history. The last time it occurred was in 2007 between the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. Shaquille O’Neal was incorrectly removed from the game for fouling out. He had only five, not six, and the final 51.9 seconds were replayed.
However, O’Neal had already been traded to the Phoenix Suns by the time the game restarted. That could be a huge advantage for the Knicks, who were without Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Julius Randle and OG Anunoby for the game. Donte DiVincenzo missed the final five minutes with a hamstring ailment as well.
Monday’s loss was the third in a row for the short-handed Knicks, who are limping into the NBA All-Star break. Catching a break and having the league require an overtime period being played could be huge in the big picture as they are right in the mix for a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
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