Lakers fume over late referee decision in OT loss to Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers were furious after match officials admitted they missed a foul on a potential game-winning lay-up from LeBron James against the Boston Celtics, which allowed their rivals to snatch a 125-121 overtime win on Saturday.

With the game tied at 105105 and 4.1 seconds left on the clock, James attempted to drive through the Celtics defense but was fouled by Jayson Tatum, denying the Lakers two points and free throws at the death.

James and the Lakers were left shell-shocked as appeals for a foul were ignored as the clock ran down while Patrick Beverley even received a technical foul when he brought a photographer’s camera on court to show the referee proof of a foul.

“You saw my reaction,” James said. “It’s challenging. I don’t get it. You’ve seen some of the games we’ve lost with late-game missed calls...”

The Celtics eventually sealed victory in overtime at the TD Garden despite James’ 41-point effort which moved him to within 116 points of all-time leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“As much as you try not to put it on officiating, it’s becoming increasingly difficult... The best player in the NBA can’t get a call. It’s amazing,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham told reporters.

James’ teammate Anthony Davis said the non-call was “unacceptable.”

“I guarantee you nothing’s going to happen to the ref. We got cheated tonight... The refs were bad tonight,” he said.

Crew Chief Eric Lewis, the lead official, later admitted there was contact.

“At the time, during the game, we did not see a foul. The crew missed the play,” Lewis said.

Wizards 113, Pelicans 103

Daniel Gafford scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as visiting Washington won its fifth straight game, defeating sliding New Orleans.

Bradley Beal added 16 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, Deni Avdija scored 15, Corey Kispert and Kendrick Nunn had 12 each and Kyle Kuzma and Monte Morris had 10 apiece as part of the Wizards’ balanced scoring.

Avdija, the 22-year-old Israeli, added nine rebounds, two assists and a steal, with a plus/ minus of +14 in 27 minutes.

CJ McCollum scored 24 points, Brandon Ingram scored 22 and Trey Murphy III added 10 to lead the Pelicans, who lost their seventh consecutive game. The season series finished at one victory each as the Wizards clamped down on defense just 19 days after the Pelicans produced a season-high point total in a 132-112 victory at Washington.

76ers 126, Nuggets 119

Joel Embiid had 47 points and 18 rebounds, including a clutch three-pointer with 29.2 seconds remaining, to lift host Philadelphia past Denver.

It was Embiid’s ninth game this season with at least 40 points. James Harden added 17 points and 13 assists with no turnovers for the Sixers, who won their seventh in a row. Georges Niang and Tobias Harris contributed 14 points apiece, while Tyrese Maxey and De’Anthony Melton had 13 each.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 24 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Nets 122, Knicks 115

Kyrie Irving scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as short-handed host Brooklyn defeated New York for the ninth straight time.

Irving helped Brooklyn improve to 3-6 since losing star Kevin Durant to a sprained right knee, and his big fourth quarter allowed the Nets to fend off the Knicks’ comeback bid. Irving made eight of 15 shots in the fourth and scored nine of Brooklyn’s last 11 points.

Playing without Ben Simmons (sore left knee) and T.J. Warren (left shin contusion), the Nets placed all five starters in double figures. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and RJ Barrett added 24.

Clippers 120, Hawks 113

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined to score 55 points while leading Los Angeles to a win at Atlanta to extend its season-best winning streak to five games.

Leonard put up 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-10 success from threepoint range, and he added eight rebounds and four assists. George scored 23 with seven rebounds and six assists.

Atlanta was led by Trae Young with 31 points and 10 assists, John Collins with 16 points and Dejounte Murray with 15 points and eight assists. Clint Capela contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Raptors 123, Trail Blazers 105

Precious Achiuwa scored a career-high 27 points on 11-of16 shooting and collected 13 rebounds to lead Toronto past host Portland.

Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and Gary Trent Jr. had 19 points against his former team. Scottie Barnes contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as Toronto improved to 2-1 on a season-high, seven-game road trip. Fred VanVleet added 11 points, nine assists and four steals.

Damian Lillard scored 30 points and Jerami Grant added 26 points and eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who had a twogame winning streak snapped. Anfernee Simons put up 14 points for Portland. (Reuters)