In the New York Knicks’ thrilling 104-101 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the officiating crew faced scrutiny for missing crucial calls during the game.
The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report for Game 2, released on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted four instances where referees failed to make correct calls or non-calls—three of which favored the Knicks, intensifying the frustration of the Sixers, who are considering filing a grievance.
At 1:14 in the fourth quarter, OG Anunoby should have been called for defensive three seconds, a violation that went unnoticed and led to a pivotal three-pointer by Tyrese Maxey from Joel Embiid’s pass, giving Philadelphia a 100-96 lead. Shortly after, Embiid got away with a foul on Donte DiVincenzo during a loose ball situation.
However, the most contentious calls occurred later in the game. Jalen Brunson’s corner three cut the Sixers’ lead to 101-99 with 27 seconds left, but a missed jersey grab by Brunson on Maxey during an inbounds pass went uncalled. Subsequently, Josh Hart’s lower body contact with Maxey, causing him to fall and lose possession, was also overlooked by the officials.
The sequence continued with Hart seizing the ball from Maxey as he lay on the floor, leading to a missed three-pointer by DiVincenzo. Isiah Hartenstein then grabbed the offensive rebound, setting up Anunoby for another shot opportunity amid chaotic scenes.
While it remains uncertain if the Sixers have lodged a complaint with the league, team president Daryl Morey has a history of challenging officiating decisions, notably with his previous team, the Houston Rockets, during the 2019 Western Conference Finals.