On April 23, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs continued, and in the case of a large lead, the Lakers collapsed in the second half and suffered a big reversal by the Nuggets, losing 99-101 to the opponent, and the series score was rewritten to 0-2. After the game, Lakers star James expressed strong dissatisfaction with the referee's blowing in an interview with the media, and even hinted that the league may be manipulating the game.
In the third quarter of the game, Russell collided with Porter Jr. who was defending him during a breakaway, but the referee did not blow the penalty, and then the Lakers chose to challenge, and the replay screen showed that Porter Jr.'s arm did touch Russell's head at that time, but the referee still did not change the decision, and the Lakers challenged to fail.
Commenting on the controversial decision, the referee on duty said that although Porter Jr.'s arm touched Russell, it was only a minor collision, and the collision did not mean that it was a foul.
In this regard, the Lakers obviously did not buy it. James said Russell was visibly punched in the face on the breakaway, but the referee ignored it, and the referee also didn't say anything when he was cut and knocked down by Porter in the final quarter. The inconsistencies in these decisions left him confused and angry.
"To be honest, I don't understand what's going on there at the replay center. And I also watched the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks game, and what are we doing? This TM is stupid. James said truthfully.
Russell, who was the person involved, was also very angry, and he posted directly on social media after the game: "It was a foul, and everyone saw it live in the United States." ”
It is worth mentioning that, echoing the Lakers' dissatisfaction and dissent with the referees, the Lakers scored a total of 13 free throws in this game, 4 fewer than their opponents. This is the first time in their last 10 meetings that the Lakers have made fewer free throws than their opponents, which is obviously unacceptable for the Lakers, who have been taking advantage of free throws.
Last season, in a game between the Lakers and the Celtics, James broke through and was hit in the arm by Tatum, the referee ignored it, and in the game, James staged an epic "kneeling for punishment", and since that game, the Lakers' treatment of free throws has been greatly improved, and more than ten free throws than opponents are the norm.
Now, the Lakers led by James have begun to complain again, and under the coercion of public opinion, will the league once again tilt the balance of penalties to Los Angeles and give the Lakers, who are 0-2 behind, a chance to survive? Let's wait and see!