NBA needs to do something about refereeing: Celtics lose at Indiana on a foul not called

It is very complicated to be a referee in the NBA.

In the eye of the storm for teams, fans and the league itself. But the mistakes must be highlighted, like the one that hit in the Indiana Pacers‘ 133-131 win over the Boston Celtics.

What would normally be a great effort, with Tyrese Haliburton, for example, missing due to injury in the game itself, turned into a scandal for Rick Carlisle‘s team.

Jaylen Brown, brutal in the clash, scoring 40 points – with 65 percent shooting from the field – stood up to win, got fouled… and wasn’t whistled.

“It’s obvious, we should do some kind of investigation. He doesn’t touch the ball. He (the referee) looks at me and tells me no. He’s not. They expect you not to be frustrated, to win the maximum. But it’s right to be upset after the game,” Brown analysed.

The foul is clear, as Buddy Hield looks to defend and hits the ‘7’ who would have won with about two seconds on the clock.

“What had to be called is clear. If he touches the ball I could have shot it somehow. But I don’t. It hits me in the head and that’s what bothers me. When you see the replay, more so,” he added.

A mess in the Celtics-Pacers game

This is how the big, controversial episode of a good basketball game unfolded. The home side recovered from the loss of Haliburton, who was injured with a sprained ankle, to take the lead against a Celtics team missing Jayson Tatum and with Jaylen Brown taking over.

TJ McConnell tied the game (131-131) with a basket from mid-range. The pressure fell on Brown who managed to spin the play to shoot from mid-range.

There was the rest of the controversy with a foul that was not clearly called. The Pacers had the last one and there Mathurin took two free throws from Kristaps Porzingis which he converted to win. Boston coach Mazzulla went further: “Hield told me he was fouled,” he said.

Suns take a beating by 27 against the Clippers

The big name game of the night was the Los Angeles Clippers‘ uncontested 138-111 thrashing of the Phoenix Suns.

They bounced back from the derby loss -in a back-to-back- by beating a Suns team that continues to leave nothing positive to show for it. Paul George (25) led the scoring with James Harden (19+10+7) and Kawhi Leonard (17).

Nor was it much better for the Milwaukee Bucks, who in the midst of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s criticism took a drubbing from the Utah Jazz (116-132). The Greek had a triple-double (25+10+11), but they were unable to fight off a Jazz team with a 23-41 first-quarter lead (23-41, 12′) that put them in the lead for the rest of the game.

Thunder scare in the West

Although the top positions in the West are more than expensive. Especially with clients like the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are on pace to be a powerhouse – with a top seed if all goes according to plan – in the Playoffs. They took the court of the Washington Wizards (128-136) with a great collective effort from their stars.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored 32 points, Chet Holmgren made 31 – four three-pointers and 78 percent shooting from the field – and continues to build on his steady run to rookie of the year over Victor Wembanyama, and Jalen Williams 21+10. A show for a team in the elite of the wildest conference of them all.

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