Josh Hart, Jeremy Sochan do a drug-themed gesture in Knicks’ Game 3 win
The New York Knicks are feeling themselves right now in the NBA playoffs.
New York took a commanding 3-0 series lead on Friday with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3. They prevailed on the road at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. by a final score of 108-94.
One particular moment by the Knicks went viral during the contest. In the second quarter, Knicks swingman Josh Hart was fouled by Philadelphia big man Dominick Barlow, causing him to miss the layup.
After missing the shot, Hart pretended to smoke an imaginary blunt. He then passed the invisible blunt to Knicks teammate Jeremy Sochan, who was on the bench at the time.
The gesture was apparently to illustrate the fact that Hart had “smoked” the layup (basketball slang for missing an easy one). Take a look at the video.
Josh Hart passes the blunt after smoking the layup pic.twitter.com/wqHX3QJKcZ
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 8, 2026
New York was in total control for most of the evening and led by as many as 16 at one point. But it looks like they definitely took a page out of the book of the Orlando Magic, who also did a drug-themed gesture before a recent playoff game.
Knicks fan had the most disrespectful gesture during Game 3 vs. 76ers
One New York Knicks fan put a target on his back on Friday while attending Game 3 of his team’s second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before tipoff, the Sixers held a moment of silence for Steve Nurse, the brother of head coach Nick Nurse. Steve died unexpectedly last Wednesday, and Nick had gone to his funeral on Tuesday, the day between Games 1 and 2 in New York.
A tribute to Nick was shown on the Jumbotron at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa.
#Sixers with a tribute to Nick Nurse’s brother Steve before Game 3. pic.twitter.com/HbY455mKjk
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) May 8, 2026
A Knicks fan drew the ire of every Sixers fan in the building when he interrupted the silence with a three-word chant.
“Let’s go, Knicks!” the fan yelled.
The fan got booed into oblivion by the entire arena.
The Sixers just held a moment of silence for Steve Nurse. Nick‘s brother. 🙏
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 8, 2026
And a New York fan yelled out let’s go Knicks. Got booed pic.twitter.com/s9lyP8qeHI
Someone yelled out “LET’S GO KNICKS” during a moment of silence for Nick Nurse’s brother. Boos ensued. Pretty brutal moment.
— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) May 8, 2026
Knicks fans have a reputation for being one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. But they’re not exactly regarded as the classiest bunch, either.
A ton of those fans made the trip to Philly to invade the 76ers’ home game.
Let’s Go Knicks chants raining down in Philly tonight. This is a Knicks home game. pic.twitter.com/tBefcj7tvm
— Jake Brown (@JakeBrownLive) May 9, 2026
Sixers star Joel Embiid made a desperate plea before the series for Philadelphians to buy out every ticket to keep Knicks fans out for Games 3, 4, and potentially 6. The Sixers brass also made efforts to make it harder for non-Philly residents to purchase tickets.
But Knicks fans still found a way to let their voices be heard in Game 3.
Ex-NBA champion announces his retirement
We have officially seen the last in the NBA of Pops Junior.
Veteran NBA forward PJ Tucker announced in a post to Instagram this week that he is formally retiring from the league. Tucker is calling it quits after 14 total seasons in the NBA.
“20 years being my job but 40 plus years of not being able to fathom doing anything other than it,” wrote Tucker in his caption. “So here’s to retiring from the NBA… because I will NEVER stop ballin.”
Tucker, now 41 years old, was known as one of the NBA’s best rugged role players. Though just 6-foot-5, Tucker would regularly play as a small-ball 5 (particularly for the Houston Rockets from 2017-21) and did all the dirty work defensively and on the glass in order to help his team win.
Also a 36.6 percent career three-point shooter who specialized in corner shots, Tucker won a championship as a starting forward on the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. He last played for the New York Knicks in 2025 as a late-season addition and went unsigned during the 2025-26 NBA campaign.
While Tucker’s final years in the NBA were marred a little bit by some public disagreements with his teams, his reputation is secure as one of the top blue-collar players of his generation. Now Tucker, who also played overseas from 2007-12, is calling it a day with over $90 million in NBA career earnings as well as a championship ring.
Video surfaces of Austin Reaves calling referee John Goble a ‘p—y’
Austin Reaves clearly does not think much of referee John Goble.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost in Game 2 of their second-round series on Thursday to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They fell by a lopsided final score of 125-107 are now facing an 0-2 deficit in the series.
Reaves, the Lakers star, was unhappy with the officiating throughout the contest. He beefed in particular with the veteran ref Goble, who was the crew chief for the game.
Video emerged on Friday showing Reaves confronting Goble in the fourth quarter. The video, which was shot by a fan in the stands, appeared to show Reaves telling Goble, “That’s some bulls–t for you to talk to me like that.”
Reaves also then seemingly went on to call Goble a “p—y.” You can see the video at the link here.
After the game, Reaves accused Goble of yelling into his face due to Reaves’ positioning on an impending jump ball. Reaves was also shown on the television broadcast confronting Goble after the final whistle as his Lakers teammates looked on.
Austin Reaves and the Lakers just had a meeting with the refs after the game to share their frustration with them. pic.twitter.com/exHIVkrese
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 8, 2026
The Lakers are often regarded by fans as beneficiaries of the officiating as they shoot far more free throw attempts than their opponents on a regular basis. But now that the Lakers have met a superior foul-drawing team in the Thunder, they are apparently not pleased that the shoe is on the other foot. Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick crashed out on the referees earlier on in Game 2.
Controversial NBA Draft prospect reveals what caused his injury issues
Darryn Peterson has long been viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, his lone season with the Kansas Jayhawks did not really help him boost his stock.
Peterson was plagued by cramping issues for most of the season with Kansas, leading to questions about his reliability and durability at the next level. However, he claims postseason tests revealed that his use of the supplement creatine was the root cause of his problems.
“I’d never taken it before [going to college],” Peterson told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. “But after the season I took two weeks off and they did tests which showed my baseline level was already high. So, they said when I dosed [a process of increasing a dose over time to create maximum benefit at the beginning of taking a supplement], it must’ve made the levels unsafe.”
Peterson said one instance of cramping was so severe that he thought he was going to “die on the training table” and had to be rushed to a hospital via ambulance.
The recurring issues bothered Peterson for much of the season. He missed 11 games and asked out of several more, which did not help his draft stock. Teams might feel better about him now that he has an answer, though team doctors will no doubt want a look at him as well.
Despite the cramping problems, Peterson averaged 20.2 points in 29.0 minutes per game for Kansas last season. If he can stay on the court, he remains a top-tier draft prospect.
Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo had a deranged pronunciation of Cam Schlittler’s name
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo did not stand a chance this week with Cam Schlittler’s name.
The veteran New York-based sports host Russo went viral this week over his horrifically botched pronunciation of the name of Schlittler, the New York Yankees pitcher. During an episode of his “Mad Dog Unleashed” show, Russo was discussing the Yankees’ pitching staff and made a mention of Schlittler.
In what can only be described as a complete verbal faceplant, Russo produced an absolutely deranged pronunication of “Schlittler.” Take a listen for yourself to the abomination that Russo coughed up.
I can’t even begin to explain how Chris “Mad Dog” Russo just tried to pronounce Cam Schlittler. pic.twitter.com/CejxSgk2Dy
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) May 7, 2026
That sounded much closer to “Scheetleranin” than to Schlittler’s actual name. One has to question whether Russo suddenly saw the Tower of Babel there and was moved to start speaking in tongues.
The 25-year-old Schlittler has also been pitching well enough this season to get his name pronounced properly. Through eight starts this season, Schlittler is 5-1 with an MLB-leading 1.52 ERA and an AL-leading 0.87 WHIP.
In fairness, Schlittler’s name has definitely tripped a lot of other analysts in the recent past (including ex-Yankees star Alex Rodriguez). But for Russo, that was a whole lot of syllables … and none of them in the right place.
Nuggets owner sends clear message to the team
Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke sent a very clear message to his team when addressing the state of the franchise on Friday.
Kroenke said “everything is going to be on the table” for the Nuggets following their loss in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. While he did not rule out bringing back a similar roster, he suggested that anyone outside of Nikola Jokic might be traded.
“Everything is going to be on the table outside of trading Nikola,” Kroenke told reporters.
“I think that everything is gonna be on the table outside of trading Nikola [Jokic]."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 8, 2026
Josh Kroenke on this coming offseason for the Nuggets 👀 pic.twitter.com/Iw3idHNKe5
This is largely in line with what had been expected around the league. The Nuggets want to maximize Jokic’s peak years, and an early playoff exit at this point is unacceptable.
The question turns, then, to what the Nuggets might be able to move. Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun might be prohibitively expensive, which would mean that the team’s other star might be the piece that brings back the most value. That would be a jarring move, but clearly, the organization is ready to make major changes after a disappointing season.
New report addresses whether Dianna Russini named her son after Mike Vrabel
Much has been made of the fact that Dianna Russini’s son shares a name with Mike Vrabel, but a new report indicates that he is not the namesake.
Russini had her son in 2021, but he was not named after Vrabel. Sources insisted to TMZ that he was instead named after Russini’s brother Michael, and the name was chosen early on in the pregnancy. Russini also named her second son after her grandfather, continuing the theme.
Whether anyone will believe this is another question entirely. Both Russini and Vrabel have denied any sort of intimate relationship, but new revelations continue to emerge that cast doubt on that statement. The fact that the two privately spent time together in 2021 while Russini was pregnant only fueled more theories to that effect.
Speculation about whether Vrabel provided Russini’s son’s name only increased after an old X post of Russini’s resurfaced in which she asked about “the best Michaels to ever play and coach in the NFL.”
No Way: Patriots HC Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini have a lot to explain…
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 23, 2026
"Keep looking at my almost 4-day-old son, Michael, while trying to figure out who are the best Michaels to ever play and coach in the NFL?" – August 11th 2021.
You can't make this stuff up 🤦♂️ https://t.co/TI2jdMNBHq pic.twitter.com/4tdvJ7PMAV
It has been roughly a month now since Vrabel and Russini were spotted in pictures holding hands and hugging at a resort in Arizona. Russini resigned from her NFL reporting job at The Athletic in the wake of the controversy, while Vrabel recently took a leave of absence from his position as head coach to attend counseling. He has since returned and continues to be publicly supported by the Patriots.
Charles Barkley shares his feelings about Draymond Green’s insult
Charles Barkley offered his response to his tense interaction with Draymond Green on Wednesday.
Green rubbed some people the wrong way Wednesday when he said his late-career goal was to avoid looking like Barkley in a Houston Rockets uniform. The line did not seem to land well, and Green drew criticism on social media for what many saw as a needlessly personal insult.
Barkley was not sweating it, though. In an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” Friday, he even fired back at Green in the best way.
“He took a shot at me, but I don’t get offended. I’ve said things about other guys. They’ve took personal shots at me,” Barkley said. “The Warriors have been in the play-in four straight years. They’ve been irrelevant. I know he doesn’t want to say it. If Golden State was relevant, he wouldn’t be in the studio with me.”
"If Golden State was relevant, he wouldn't be in the studio with me!" 😅
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) May 8, 2026
– Charles Barkley on Draymond Green pic.twitter.com/ajyOjQQwEX
Green has been an integral part of Golden State’s success, but Barkley is correct that their dynasty is almost certainly over. It is not even clear whether Green will be back with Golden State next season, so his comment to Barkley might age quite poorly.
As for Barkley, his skin is thick enough that he can take what he dishes out. It probably helps that he has a lot of facts on his side here, too.
Breece Hall offers touching comment after receiving big contract extension
The New York Jets gave Breece Hall a big contract extension, and the running back is looking to repay their faith in him.
The Jets and Hall have agreed on a contract extension that can be worth up to $45.75 million over three years. The deal makes him the third-highest paid running back in the NFL. According to reporter Connor Hughes, the deal is really for two years guaranteed at $29 million.
Sources: The contract for Breece Hall is really a two-year, fully-guaranteed $29m deal ($14.5m APY). The third year does not have any grantees in it, but with it, and incentives, the APY jumps.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 8, 2026
Was important for the #Jets to get this done. They felt they were close before tag… pic.twitter.com/02WivSMt36
Although he has received his contract, Hall is not satisfied. He wants to prove that he is worth the money.
“Shoutout everyone in my corner. Lot of work left to do. God Bless,” Hall wrote in a post on X shortly after the news of his new contract was reported.
Hall then offered a touching comment as he reflected on his career journey.
“Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL. This day really hit different for me man,” Hall wrote.
Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL. This day really hit different for me man🙏🏾🤞🏾
— Breece Hall (@BreeceH) May 8, 2026
Hall tore his ACL and meniscus during his rookie season with the Jets in 2022. He has played in 16 games in each of the last two seasons. Last season, he rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards along with four touchdowns. He added 36 catches for 350 yards.
Hall seemed a little bitter when he saw the money the Jets were spending this offseason. He’s probably a lot happier now that the money is coming his way.
Cubs showing trade interest in Mets pitcher
The Chicago Cubs have interest in improving their pitching this season, and they reportedly have interest in one New York Mets pitcher.
Veteran Chicago baseball reporter Bruce Levine reported on Friday that the Cubs have talked with the Mets about Freddy Peralta. Peralta, 29, is in his first season with the Mets. He is 2-3 with a 3.12 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43.1 innings over eight starts.
According to Levine, the Mets may give it until June 1st to see if they are contenders or ready to sell at the trade deadline.
According to industry sources the Cubs are one of the teams the Mets have talked to about acquiring RHP Freddy Peralta.June 1st is a target time for the Mets to either get back into the race or move the soon to be Free agent .Peralta and Craig Counsell share a mutual bond.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) May 8, 2026
The Mets had an awful start to the season that included a 12-game losing streak, but they are 4-2 in May and starting to turn things around. August 3rd is the trade deadline, so there is still plenty of time for the Mets to evaluate their team and determine whether they want to trade some of their talent.
Peralta, who was an All-Star with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021 and 2025, is in the final year of his current contract and set to become a free agent after the season. If the Mets do not feel like they can contend for a postseason spot, they might want to trade Peralta and get something in return for him.
The Cubs entered play on Friday 26-12, which ties the Atlanta Braves for the best record in the National League. Shota Imanaga and Edward Cabrera have been their top starting pitchers this season.
Steelers GM addresses the latest Aaron Rodgers rumor
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan addressed the latest rumor about the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Friday.
Reports Thursday indicated that Rodgers will be in Pittsburgh over the weekend, though there were conflicting claims about whether he and the Steelers had a deal or not. Khan himself was not even willing to go that far on Friday, telling “Kaboly and Mack” that he had no details on where Rodgers might be.
“I don’t know where specifically Aaron is,” Khan said. “We continue to have conversations, and they’re positive. We had a good experience with him last year. I think he would probably echo the same thing. Conversations continue.”
Steelers GM Omar Khan to @THEChrisMack this morning: "I don't know where specifically Aaron is. … We continue to have conversations, and they're positive. We had a good experience with him last year. I think he would probably echo the same thing. Conversations continue." https://t.co/KKNMzG5Oh0
— Jeremy Bergman (@JABergman) May 8, 2026
Either Khan is keeping things close to the vest or even he is in the dark on Rodgers’ decision. The latter is certainly plausible, as Rodgers has left them in limbo for months now.
Rodgers initially arrived in Pittsburgh in 2025, signing a 1-year, $13.65 million contract with the Steelers. He showed last year that he’s got some gas left in the tank, passing for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against 7 interceptions on a 65.7% pass completion rate.
Everyone said the same thing about Packers’ decision to release their kicker
The Green Bay Packers made the somewhat bold decision to release veteran kicker Brandon McManus on Friday, prompting some surprise from around the league.
The Packers released McManus on Friday roughly two months after giving him a $1 million roster bonus in March. The move comes after the Packers traded up in the sixth round of the NFL Draft to select Florida kicker Trey Smack.
The Packers had publicly maintained that McManus and Smack would compete to win the kicking job in training camp. That obviously was not the case, and many were surprised that the Packers deviated from their plan.
Well – that answers the kicking competition. Brandon McManus is out. It’s Trey Smack’s job to lose.
— Kyle Malzhan (@KyleMalzhan) May 8, 2026
McManus left 7 points on the board during the Wild Card loss. Missed 7 kicks his first 7 games last year that involved three missed FGs in 3 separate 3-point losses.
The… https://t.co/rsduXE6wRX
Yes. Giving a kicker a 1 million roster bonus in March to stay on the roster only to then cut him after drafting a 6th round kicker who is no guarantee to be good & not even letting them compete in camp when there’s no upside to releasing McManus now is a wow.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) May 8, 2026
WHOA
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) May 8, 2026
They were clearly just over McManus. The playoff game was a bridge too far. https://t.co/ILOP8BT3zM
Damn. I was fully expecting Trey Smack to ultimately win the job by the end of the summer, but I didn’t think there was a chance they’d release Brandon McManus so soon without a competition. https://t.co/8GUPbgZShv
— Zach Jacobson (@zacobson) May 8, 2026
McManus cannot be shocked by the ultimate decision. He missed two field goals and an extra point in the Packers’ 31-27 loss in the NFC Wild Card game last year, which likely sealed his fate. The fact that they kept him on the roster and paid him that bonus is perhaps the stranger decision, though it’s possible the team kept him around as insurance in case they did not land the kicker they sought in the draft.
The playoff game was not McManus’ only lowlight last season. There will always be a need for kickers, but his NFL career is definitely in doubt.
NFL avoids worst-case scenario with its referees
The NFL has avoided a worst-case scenario with its referees after a new collective bargaining agreement was approved Friday.
The NFL Referees Association approved an agreement with the NFL on Friday on a new seven-year labor deal. The agreement means there will be no replacement officials when the NFL kicks off this fall.
League officials voted 116-4 to approve the agreement.
Officials voted 116-4 to approve the deal, per source. An overwhelming majority backing a joint plan to invest more in officiating. https://t.co/RCMUsWEaYV
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 8, 2026
The overwhelming sentiment among NFL fans to this news will presumably be relief. For a period of time, a referee lockout looked like a legitimate possibility. It was taken seriously enough that the league actually passed a temporary rule change meant to avert some of the messes that came about the last time replacement referees were used.
This vote ensures that there will not be a repeat of the “Fail Mary” this fall. If there is, it will be on the watch of the regular officials.
Seahawks not receiving as much sale interest as expected
The Seattle Seahawks are not garnering the amount of interest the NFL hoped for after they were put up for sale.
Interest in the Seahawks has been “soft,” according to Seth Wickersham of ESPN. The recent sales of the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders both attracted more interest than the Seahawks have, according to one anonymous NFL executive.
The relatively modest interest suggests that the most optimistic estimates about the team’s potential sale price are unlikely to materialize. The belief is that the sale price is unlikely to surpass $10 billion, and will instead be closer to $9 billion. That would still break the record for highest sale price, however.
Part of the issue is a lack of plausible buyers, not to mention the sale price. Still, this is something of a surprise given some of the huge names linked to the franchise.
The Seahawks have been owned by the estate of Paul Allen since his death in 2018. His sister Jody has controlled the team as the executor of a trust during that period, but finally put the franchise up for sale earlier this year.
Guardians fan’s foul ball fiasco ends in date’s beer bath
During a recent Guardians three-game series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, one Cleveland fan tried to snag a foul ball with one hand while gripping a beer in the other. Big mistake.
The souvenir sailed right through his fingers, but the beer didn’t. It erupted straight onto the woman beside him, drenching her nachos and face in one glorious splash.
Classic double error: Zero ball, zero drink saved. He never bothered with the classic “hold my beer” warning. Instead, she ended up wearing it.
Slow-motion replays turned the frothy disaster into instant internet gold.
Credit to her—she could’ve been furious. Instead, the presumed girlfriend (or wife, or friend) burst out laughing. Her hilarious reaction stole the show and won over fans everywhere.
In a season of close calls, this standside blunder delivered the ultimate refreshment: Proof that sometimes the best catches are the ones that get away—along with a cold beer.
Mets announcers ‘Lady and the Tramp’ a $45 Glizzilla
In the middle of Wednesday night’s broadcast from Coors Field, New York Mets play-by-play man Gary Cohen watched in amused horror as analysts Keith Hernandez and Steve Gelbs turned a $45 monstrosity into must-see television.
The Glizzilla—a two-foot-long, one-pound frankfurter sprawled across a 19-inch bun—landed in the booth like a meaty missile during the Mets’ eventual 10-5 victory over the Rockies.
Hernandez and Gelbs, channeling their inner Disney canines, attacked the beast from opposite ends in a messy, mustard-dappled reenactment of the iconic “Lady and the Tramp” spaghetti scene.
Bites were traded with theatrical flair as the oversized wiener wobbled precariously in its cardboard carrier. Cohen wisely passed on the frank, later quipping that the spectacle “will live forever.”
Though the Glizzilla proved more gimmick than gourmet, the duo’s synchronized chomping delivered genuine laughs and a broadcast highlight far juicier than anything happening on the diamond.
In a season of big swings and bigger expectations, Hernandez and Gelbs reminded fans that sometimes the real home run is simply having the relish to tackle a two-foot dog on live TV.
Judge postpones ex-Miami player’s murder retrial amid bias claims
The retrial of Rashaun Jones in the 2006 murder of University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was postponed on Wednesday after defense attorneys raised last-minute allegations of misconduct by investigators and prosecutors.
Pata, 22, was shot in the back of the head outside his Kendall apartment on November 7, 2006, after returning from football practice. A rising star projected as a high NFL draft pick, he had no eyewitnesses to the killing.
Jones, a former Hurricanes teammate and one-time suspect, was arrested in August 2021 and charged with second-degree murder.
Jones’ first trial ended in a hung jury mistrial in March 2026. The retrial had been set for May 18.
On May 7, defense lawyers filed emergency motions after the April 27 deadline, citing an internal-affairs probe of lead detective Juan Segovia over Instagram posts made during the initial trial that appeared to prejudge Jones’ guilt. They also challenged the re-listing of a jailhouse informant who had previously threatened to sabotage the state’s case and referenced a Florida Bar complaint against former prosecutor Michael Von Zamft for alleged witness-handling misconduct in an unrelated matter.
Circuit Judge Cristina Miranda called the timing “ridiculous and absurd,” but granted the continuance after Jones agreed he needed more time.
The new trial date is September 14, with motions scheduled for May 18.
Jones remains in custody.
Khamzat Chimaev kicks Sean Strickland at wild UFC 328 press conference
Tensions erupted at the UFC 328 press conference on Thursday when middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev kicked challenger Sean Strickland in the shin during their first faceoff.
The incident occurred moments after UFC CEO Dana White positioned himself between the fighters and instructed them to remain calm.
The pair had traded vulgar insults for roughly 30 minutes earlier in the event. As they stared each other down, Strickland shouted, “You ain’t going to do s–t.” Chimaev responded by launching a quick kick, prompting immediate chaos.
Security personnel and Newark police officers rushed in to separate the fighters, with Strickland straining against restraints while yelling back at his opponent.
No injury was reported to Strickland, and officials confirmed the title fight remains scheduled for Saturday at the Prudential Center. Afterward, Strickland posted on social media.
The longstanding animosity stems from a brief training stint together in 2022. White later called the rivalry one of the top three in UFC history.
Heightened security, including armed officers and metal detectors at the fighter hotel in Morristown, New Jersey, had already been implemented for the week due to prior threats between the camps.
Lakers’ JJ Redick shreds officials after Game 2 loss
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick sharply criticized the officiating following his team’s 125-107 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday.
Redick, who received a technical foul in the first quarter for arguing with referee Ben Taylor, expressed frustration over what he viewed as inconsistent foul calls, particularly those involving LeBron James.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen,” Redick said, via ESPN. “I mean, I’ve been with him two years now. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them. He gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight, a bunch.
“And that’s not like a new thing. That’s not specific to this crew or this series. He gets fouled a lot and it doesn’t [get called]. The guy gets hit on the head more than any player I’ve seen on drives, and it rarely gets called.”
Austin Reaves, who scored a playoff career-high 31 points, confronted crew chief John Goble late in the game, citing what he felt was disrespectful treatment during a disputed double foul situation. Reaves emphasized he had remained respectful throughout but felt the official overstepped.
The Lakers were assessed 26 fouls compared to Oklahoma City’s 21, with the Thunder earning more free throw attempts.
“I sarcastically said the other day, they’re the most disruptive team without fouling,” Redick said. “I mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession. … They’re hard enough to play. They’re hard enough to play, you’ve got to be able to just call them if they foul, and they do foul.”
Redick acknowledged the emotion displayed by his players while praising their composure amid the challenges. The series now stands at 2-0 in favor of the Thunder.
