Refs’ delayed reaction costs Knicks bucket
cONFUSION abounded late in the fourth quarter Sunday, when a bizarre call sent the Knicks into a tailspin that eventually resulted in an inexcusable home loss to the NBa-worst Hawks.
With 3:49 remaining in regulation and the Knicks leading, 89-86, Tim Hardaway Jr. fouled atlanta’s Kent Bazemore on a clear three-point attempt. Bazemore misfired on his first free throw and was off again on his second. The Knicks then grabbed the rebound and pushed up the floor, seemingly unaware that Bazemore was due an additional free throw. The refs, however, did not blow the whistle to stop play.
Jeff Hornacek called a set play after the Knicks crossed halfcourt. Kristaps Porzingis received the ball in the post near the left sideline. Hardaway cut backdoor off a Kyle O’Quinn screen at the elbow. Porzingis slipped a bounce pass to Hardaway, who finished with an and-1 dunk that electrified the crowd.
at the stoppage, though, the refs conferenced and realized they’d forgotten to award Bazemore his third free throw. By rule — Rule 2, Section VI, a, f, to be exact — if the referees identify a free-throw error, they can correct said error as long as it’s discovered within 24 seconds. In this instance, 17 seconds had passed since Bazemore was fouled. So the referees made their ruling: Hardaway’s basket would be wiped off the board, and Bazemore would return to the charity stripe to shoot his third free throw.
So instead of Hardaway shooting with a chance to put the Knicks ahead by six points, Bazemore connected on his free throw and cut the Knick lead to two points, effectively a fourpoint swing. The Knicks lost, 99-96.
“I’ve never seen something like that. I haven’t even ever seen that in 2K,” O’Quinn said, referencing the popular NBa video game. “I can understand if they were blowing the whistle and we didn’t hear it or something. But live action? Off a drawn-up play?…I’ve just never seen something like that, and I still don’t understand it.”
Official Pat Fraher, a 17-year NBa veteran, told a pool reporter that if more than 24 seconds had passed, Hardaway's dunk would have counted and Bazemore would not have shot his additional free throw.
“Since it was under 24,” Fraher said, “we nullify all play and go back to the point of interruption.”
“That’s the rules,” Knicks guard courtney Lee said. “You can’t complain about it.”