Referees’ union says LeBron James was fouled on controversial play

TheNational Basketball Referees Association said Sunday that LeBronJames was fouled on the last play of regulation in the Los AngelesLakers’ game against the Boston Celtics.

The NBAoffice also confirmed for the second time that a foul should havebeen called.

“Likeeveryone else, referees make mistakes,”the union wrote in itstweet.“We made one at the end of last night’s game and thatis gut-wrenching for us. This play will weigh heavily and causesleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we canbe.”

Like everyone else, referees make mistakes.We made one at the end of last night’s game and that isgut-wrenching for us. This play will weigh heavily and causesleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we canbe.https://t.co/WyN8QVuTOl

James gotthe ball about 35 feet from the basket, with 4.1 seconds remainingin what was a tied game at Boston on Saturday night. He split twodefenders as he got into the lane, then went airborne and got pastJayson Tatum as well.

James laidthe ball up with his left hand,Tatum clearly made contactwith James’ shooting arm,no foul was called and the game wentto overtime. Had a foul been called, James would have gone to thefree-throw line with an opportunity to put the Lakers ahead with1.8 seconds remaining.

The Celticswound up winning the game in overtime, 125-121.

Was LeBron James fouled on the final playhere by Jayson Tatum? 🤔pic.twitter.com/y8P0LT0hZb

“We gotcheated tonight, honestly. ... It’s unacceptable,” Lakers forwardAnthony Davis said after the game.

The NBAacknowledged shortly after the game that a foul should have beencalled — “There was contact. At the time, during the game, we didnot see a foul. The crew missed the play,” crew chief Eric Lewistold a pool reporter — and reaffirmed that Sunday in the reportdetailing calls made and missed in the final two minutes ofregulation and overtime.

The Lakersentered Sunday 13th in the Western Conference at 23-27, only twogames back of the final play-in spot and four games back of thefourth-place Los Angeles Clippers. But the Lakers have also spentvirtually the entire season on the outside of the playoffpicture.

“We don’thave room for error,” James said after Saturday’s game. “And it’sone of the best games we played all year. For it to fall onsomebody else’s judgment, or non-judgment, it’s just ridiculous.It’s ridiculous.”

NeitherJames nor Davis will play in the Lakers’ next game on Monday atBrooklyn, the team said. Injuries are the reason; James has leftankle soreness and Davis continues to deal with a right foot stressinjury.

Jamesreacted with no shortage of animation after the missed call on theTatum play, immediately pointing to his arm and eventually slumpingto the court, resting on his knees and elbows as he tried to cometo grips with no foul being called.

Lakersguard Patrick Beverley brought a camera onto the court during theensuing stoppage to show Lewis an image of the contact; Beverleygot a technical foul, and the Celtics wound up starting theovertime with a 106-105 lead because of the resulting freethrow.

It markedat least the fourth time in recent weeks that the Lakers felt alate-game call went against them in what became a loss.

“I don’tsee it happening to nobody else,” James said. “It’s justweird.”

AddedLakers coach Darvin Ham: “As much as you try not to put it onofficiating, it’s becoming increasingly difficult.”