The Houston Rockets are considering a protest over a James Harden dunk not counting during Tuesday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Houston was leading 102-89 in the fourth quarter when Harden dunked on a breakaway. Though the arena put points on the board, the referees saw the ball go back through the hoop and said the dunk did not count, thinking it was basket interference. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni says he tried challenging the call but wasn’t able to.
Mike D'Antoni explains James Harden's bizzare dunk sequence pic.twitter.com/IP21USUxBm
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 4, 2019
The game was tied at 115 at the end of regulation and went to double overtime before San Antonio won 135-133.
The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen reported after the game that the Rockets were considering protesting the game over the missed points.
Rockets weighing protesting the game, source said. Only thing holding them back is it might not be necessary because a made basket did not count in which case the NBA could step in. (FWIW, points were put on the scoreboard. Don't know if they were in the official book.)
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 4, 2019
Harden told reporters after the game that the ball went in, which is what the video showed. As if that call weren’t bad enough, the Rockets lost when Harden was called for an offensive foul at the end of the second overtime. Between all this and the fan taunt, it was a rough night for Harden in San Antonio.
Here was the explanation from the officials:
Transcript: NBA Referee James Capers Comments to Pool Reporter after Rockets – Spurs game. pic.twitter.com/rVD6HF9Tca
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) December 4, 2019
UPDATE: The Rockets are reportedly confident that the NBA will step in and take some sort of action to remedy the situation.
