Thunder upset over referees missing call on final play
Several members of the Oklahoma City Thunder were upset after the officiating crew blew a call on the play that gave the Milwaukee Bucks a 97-95 victory against them on Friday night.
With the game tied at 95 in the final seconds, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo drove baseline for the winning basket. However, replay showed that he stepped on the baseline and was out of bounds.
Here is the slow-mo look at Giannis’ game-winning drive. Steps on baseline, no review. You boys in trouble @OfficialNBARefs pic.twitter.com/fgkjCc9suQ
— Agent of NBA Chaos (@World_Wide_Wob) December 30, 2017
That should have resulted in a turnover with the ball going to OKC.
Referee Derrick Stafford explained after the game why the play wasn’t reviewed so they could have changed the call.
Official Derrick Stafford on the final sequence via a pool reporter: "In any reviewable matter, there has to be a whistle called on the floor. There was no whistle blown for the play, so we couldn't review it."
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 30, 2017
That was no less comforting for the Thunder. Ray Felton, Paul George and Billy Donovan all vented about the missed call after the game.
Ray Felton asked about the finish to tonight’s game: “Well, I’m not gonna give my honest answer…”
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) December 30, 2017
Wow?! No travel OR out of bounds huh?
— Paul George (@Yg_Trece) December 30, 2017
Billy Donovan on the final play (Pt. 1): "Obviously, he stepped out of bounds. Everybody knows that. I did not get a chance to personally see the replay. I was trying to ask for a review."
— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) December 30, 2017
That’s a really tough break for the Thunder. The game probably would have gone to overtime had the correct call been made.
