The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report assesses calls made late in games, and the league deemed the officials were correct with the non-call in the final seconds of Sunday’s game between the Sixers and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Sixers fell 120-117 on Sunday night after a final-second play that resulted in a non-call that drew plenty of reaction from Sixers coach Nick Nurse and fans on social media.
The Controversial Final Play That Sparked Outrage
The play involved an inbounds pass to Nickeli Alexander-Walker, where he appeared to catch the ball in the frontcourt and bring it over the center court line, into the backcourt. Sixers TV analyst Alaa Abdelnaby immediately said, “That’s a backcourt, that’s a backcourt,” on the broadcast.
Play-by-play’er Kate Scott added, “That’s what Nick Nurse is saying.”
“That is obviously a backcourt,” Abdelnaby added. Except it wasn’t called, the Hawks shot two free throws, extending their lead to 120-117, which ended up being the final score.
However, according to the L2M (Last Two-Minute Report), the officials got the call correct.
The Last Two Minute Report Weighs InWhat’s Next for the Sixers?
The rule suggests that the player’s momentum played a factor in a player crossing over into the back court. Per NBA Rule 4, Section VI, g3: the officials didn’t consider Alexander-Walker to have established a “positive position” in the frontcourt.
The Sixers have the next few nights off before returning on Friday night at Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks.
You can listen to the game on 97.3 ESPN with the coverage at 7 p.m.
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