The Los Angeles Lakers made quite the statement with their victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive win and eighth in their last nine outings. This impressive run includes triumphs over powerhouses like the Knicks and Timberwolves, signaling that the Lakers might have cracked the code on competing with the league's elite after a season of struggles against top-tier teams.
However, the NBA's Last Two Minute Report from Sunday indicates that the Lakers were on the receiving end of a crucial, incorrect call in regulation as they fought to force overtime. Trailing by three with just under 10 seconds left, the Lakers inbounded to Austin Reaves, who was stripped by Nuggets forward Spencer Jones but was awarded a foul. Reaves capitalized by sinking both free throws, narrowing the gap to one point.
The NBA report suggests, "Jones extends his right hand and cleanly dislodges the ball away from Reaves after he received the inbound pass." The specifics of who the ball went out off remain unclear, though it appeared to touch Jones' hand last.
In the actual sequence, Reaves nailed his free throws. Cam Johnson responded with two successful free throws of his own for Denver, followed by Reaves being fouled again.
He made the first, intentionally missed the second, grabbed the rebound, and tied the game at 118. The Lakers then clinched the win in overtime with a game-winning shot from Luka Dončić, arguably his most significant moment in a Lakers jersey.
It's hard to predict how the game would have unfolded without the incorrect foul call, but the Lakers faced a challenging scenario. Had Denver gained possession, the Lakers would have needed a turnover and a three-pointer to level the score.
Without a timeout, they would have needed a quick inbound play under pressure, still trailing by three and against a defense keen on fouling to prevent a tying shot. The odds were certainly not in their favor.
While incorrect calls occur throughout games, only the final two minutes undergo public scrutiny. This particular call could have significant consequences.
The Lakers currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference by a slim margin. Denver and Minnesota are tied for the No. 5 spot, trailing the Lakers by just 1 ½ games.
Phoenix, in the No. 7 slot, is only three games behind, threatening to disrupt the top six and push another contender into the Play-In Tournament. Every game among these five teams is pivotal, and the Lakers might have caught a break on Saturday.
Despite this, the Lakers' performance remains significant. They played Denver evenly for 48 minutes, following recent wins over New York and Minnesota.
They're hitting their stride at a crucial time, emerging as a more formidable playoff threat than they've been all season. This holds true regardless of one missed call.
Yet, with the Western Conference playoff race so tight, that call could have major implications as the season winds down.