NBA Admits Ref Missed Key Foul on Luka Doncic in Timberwolves' Game 4 Victory

In a recent revelation, the NBA confirmed that referees overlooked a foul on Los Angeles Lakers' star Luka Doncic during the nail-biting Game 4 of their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This admission came on Monday, just a day after the game, which saw the Lakers narrowly lose 116-113.

With only 33 seconds remaining in the game and the Lakers trailing by a single point, Doncic found himself tripped by Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels near midcourt. The incident appeared to be unintentional, but it was significant enough to impact the game's outcome. Doncic managed to keep possession of the ball as he fell, prompting the Lakers to call a timeout to avoid an 8-second violation.

This missed call was not an isolated incident; it was one of two uncalled fouls that occurred during critical moments of one-point playoff games on the same day. The other involved New York's Josh Hart, who fouled Detroit's Tim Hardaway Jr. on a three-point attempt as time expired in their Game 4 matchup. Despite the foul, Hardaway did not receive free throws, and the Knicks ultimately won the game 94-93. The NBA later confirmed that Hardaway had indeed been fouled.

In its Last 2-Minute Report, the NBA stated, "McDaniels ... steps forward into Doncic's ... path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance." These reports are released the day after games where the score margin is three points or less during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.

Doncic himself was straightforward about the incident, stating, "I got tripped, for sure." His candidness reflects the frustration players often feel regarding officiating in high-stakes games.

McDaniels, on the other hand, chose not to comment on the trip but expressed the Timberwolves' determination to defy expectations. "No one ever wants the Timberwolves to win, so just knowing the world's against us and we're just trying to prove everybody wrong," he said, highlighting the underdog mentality that has fueled the team's performance.

Throughout the series, McDaniels has been a standout player for the Timberwolves, averaging 19.8 points per game and solidifying his reputation as one of the league's top defenders. Teammate Anthony Edwards praised him, saying, "Jaden is incredible. He's been playing phenomenal every game, all year."

If the foul on Doncic had been called, he would have had the opportunity to tie the game or even give the Lakers the lead from the free-throw line. Instead, the Timberwolves capitalized on the situation, stealing an inbounds pass from LeBron James and allowing Edwards to sink two free throws with just 10.9 seconds left, extending their lead to 116-113.

This sequence of events also sparked controversy, as James claimed he had made contact with Edwards' hand, which he believed should have resulted in a turnover. The NBA reviewed the play and confirmed that James did indeed foul Edwards by hitting his wrist.

James commented on the situation, saying, "That play happens all the time. Hand is part of the ball. That's what they said. I feel like the hand was a part of that ball." However, Edwards was quick to assert that he recognized the foul immediately. "I was 100% sure as soon as it happened. I looked at the ref like, 'We gonna challenge it,'" he said. "I knew he fouled me because he swiped down real hard and hit my arm. That was a great overturn by the refs; we appreciate them."

In the final moments, the Lakers' Austin Reaves missed a potential game-tying three-pointer, sealing the Timberwolves' victory by three points. Following their wins, both the Knicks and Timberwolves now hold 3-1 leads in their respective series. The Knicks will host Detroit for Game 5 on Tuesday, while the Lakers will face off against Minnesota in their own Game 5 on Wednesday.