Referees missed the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic getting fouled with 33 seconds left in Game 4 of their playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the NBA said Monday.
The Lakers were down 114-113 in Sunday's game when Doncic got tripped up — it appeared to be advertent — by Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels near midcourt. Doncic retained possession as he hit the floor and the Lakers called time-out to avoid an 8-second violation.
That was one of two uncalled fouls that came late in one-point playoff games on Sunday, the other being New York’s Josh Hart fouling Detroit’s Tim Hardaway Jr. on a 3-point try as time expired in Game 4 of that series. Hardaway didn't get free throws and the Knicks won that game 94-93, with the NBA saying shortly after that game that Hardaway indeed was fouled.
“McDaniels ... steps forward into Doncic’s ... path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance,” the NBA said Monday in its Last 2-Minute Report on the Timberwolves-Lakers game. The NBA releases those reports the day after games where the margin is three points or less at any time in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Doncic put it more directly. “I got tripped, for sure,” he said.
Had the foul been called, Doncic would have gone to the foul line with a chance to tie the game or give the Lakers the lead. Instead, Minnesota stole LeBron James' ensuing inbounds pass and Anthony Edwards made two free throws with 10.9 seconds left for a 116-113 lead.
That play also raised the Lakers' ire, with James saying he got Edwards on the hand and caused what he thought should have been a turnover. The NBA reviewed that play in real time and saw that James hit Edwards on the wrist, which it deemed a foul.
“That play happens all the time,” James said after the game. “Hand is part of the ball. That’s what they said. I feel like the hand was a part of that ball."
The Lakers' Austin Reaves missed what could have been a game-tying a 3-pointer on the game's final play, and Minnesota won by three.
The Knicks and Timberwolves both took 3-1 leads after Sunday's wins. Detroit is at New York for Game 5 of that series on Tuesday, and the Lakers host Minnesota in Game 5 of that series on Wednesday.
GAME FIVE PREVIEW
Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (50-32, third in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Wednesday, 9 p.m. CDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lakers -5.5; over/under is 209.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Timberwolves lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves look to clinch the series over the Los Angeles Lakers in game five of the Western Conference first round. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 116-113 in the last matchup on Sunday. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 43 points, and Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 38.
The Lakers have gone 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles averages 113.4 points and has outscored opponents by 1.2 points per game.
The Timberwolves are 33-19 in Western Conference play. Minnesota ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 11.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 3.7.
The Lakers score 113.4 points per game, 4.1 more points than the 109.3 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Lakers give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: LeBron James is averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 29.5 points, six rebounds and five assists over the last 10 games.
Julius Randle is averaging 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Timberwolves. Edwards is averaging 30.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 48.8% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 5-5, averaging 110.9 points, 40.5 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points per game.
Timberwolves: 8-2, averaging 113.0 points, 44.2 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.6 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Maxi Kleber: day to day (foot).
Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham: day to day (ankle).