In a thrilling Game 2 matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, a controversial moment occurred that left 76ers coach Nick Nurse furious. With just 27 seconds remaining in the game, Jalen Brunson hit a miraculous 3-pointer that bounced off the rim and into the basket. Following this, Nurse claimed that he attempted to call a timeout not once, but twice, but the referees ignored him on both occasions.
Nurse expressed his frustration in the postgame press conference, stating that he even checked the game footage to confirm that his timeout signals were indeed warranted. He explained that he tried to call a timeout to advance the ball quickly but was ignored by the referee. Nurse suggested that he may have had to physically run onto the court to grab the referee’s attention, emphasizing the importance of the timeout in that crucial moment of the game.
The controversy unfolded when the 76ers’ inbounds pass was knocked into the air, allowing Josh Hart to steal it away from Tyrese Maxey. Despite Nurse’s claims of calling a timeout, play continued, and Donte DiVincenzo was left open for a game-deciding 3-pointer. DiVincenzo missed the shot, but the Knicks maintained possession and created another opportunity. This time, DiVincenzo didn’t miss, hitting the shot that ultimately secured the victory for the Knicks.
Although the 76ers still had another chance to take the lead, Maxey couldn’t convert his 2-point attempt while driving to the basket. OG Anunoby grabbed the rebound and sank both free throws at the other end. As Joel Embiid’s desperate heave fell short before the final buzzer, the Knicks celebrated their escape with a win.
However, on the other side of the celebration at Madison Square Garden was a frustrated Nick Nurse. He believed that the game could have had a different outcome if the referees had acknowledged his timeout calls. ESPN reported that the 76ers plan to file a grievance with the NBA over the officiating in the first two games of the series, highlighting the dissatisfaction with the referees’ performance.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the ignored timeout calls by Nick Nurse adds to the intensity of the 76ers-Knicks series. The outcome of Game 2 could have been different if Nurse’s attempts to call a timeout had been recognized. As the series progresses, it will be interesting to see if the 76ers’ grievance with the NBA leads to any changes in officiating and if incidents like this will impact future games.
