‘Can’t call that’: NBA erupts over ‘yucky’ ref decision as LeBron gets his way

NBA fans and players are fuming after LeBron James manipulated a pivotal game in his team’s favour in farcical scenes.

NBA stars and fans were left scratching their heads at a questionable referee call in the dying stages of the LA Lakers win over the Phoenix Suns in the In-Season Tournament on Wednesday (AEDT).

The Lakers defeated the Suns 106-103 in a thriller to eliminate Phoenix from the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament and book their place in the semi-finals in Las Vegas.

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The game went down to the wire, with LeBron James nailing a jump shot and a tough lay-up to keep the Lakers ahead, before an Austin Reaves three-pointer put the Lakers up 105-101 with 15 seconds remaining.

Kevin Durant made it a two-point game before James inbounded the ball to Reaves, who had the ball knocked loose as Phoenix looked to pounce and tie the game.

But as soon as Reaves lost control of the ball, James turned to his bench and got Lakers coach Darvin Ham to call a time-out while the ball was still in play.

Durant missed a three-pointer to tie the game, and the Lakers advanced to the semi-finals of the In-Season Tournament.

LeBron James called a timeout when the Lakers didn't have the ball.

NBA fans and players couldn’t believe the Lakers were allowed to call a time-out given they weren’t in possession of the ball and the Suns hadn’t fouled Reaves.

Former NBA sharpshooter Reggie Miller said in commentary: “The ball’s loose. You can’t give that time-out.”

The ball was DEFINITELY loose. I don't see how the referees grant a timeout here. pic.twitter.com/ZlaxGXpCx6

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 6, 2023

Suns fans should be livid. In order for a time out to be called,the Lakers needed to have possession of the ball. It is clearly not controlled by Reaves as the ball is already free by the time LeBron is turning to the ref with the time out signal. This would’ve tied the game pic.twitter.com/tF6Jb9MQVT

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) December 6, 2023

Wow lol

— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) December 6, 2023

🤨

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) December 6, 2023

glad the in season tournament gives the refs a new showcase for their talents

— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) December 6, 2023

This last couple of minutes have been yucky. Realllllllllllll yucky. Calls/non-calls that are hard to take. #Suns

— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) December 6, 2023

And just when you think the NBA couldn’t make the In-Season Tournament work any better for itself in its inaugural, LeBron and his storied Lakers are now headed to Vegas where they are the most popular team in this town which means increased ticket sales and more global interest. pic.twitter.com/C7WSmBsPrB

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 6, 2023

NBA officials confirmed James called the timeout and explained: “During live play the official felt that LA still had possession of the ball when LeBron James requested the timeout.

“Through postgame video review in slow motion replay, we didn see that Austin Reaves had his left hand on the ball while it’s pinned against his left leg, which does constitute control.”

Nonetheless, James had a stellar game — becoming the first Lakers player to have 30 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals in a game since Magic Johnson in 1987.

The Lakers will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in Las Vegas on Saturday, while the Milwaukee Bucks will face the Indiana Pacers in the other semi-final.

LeBron turned it on in the In-Season Tournament. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 63 points as the Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 146-122 on to power into the semi-finals of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.

Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee scorers with 35 points while Lillard weighed in with 28 points, including 5-of-7 from three-point distance.

Antetokounmpo finished with 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Malik Beasley (18 points), Khris Middleton (14), Bobby Portis (13) and Cameron Payne (12) all made double figures for Milwaukee.

The In-Season Tournament, and its unique court designs, have been introduced this year in an effort to draw more interest from mainstream fans to the early part of the NBA’s 82-game regular season.

Each player on the winning team will receive USD$500,000 and a medal.

— With AFP