No foul was called on this final play as Colby Jones took a hit to the face
Incredible referee error amplifies Sacramento Kings' rollercoaster season
NBASaturday, 06 April 2024 at 08:18
The Sacramento Kings have been on a wild ride throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, experiencing both the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. However, the rollercoaster reached new heights of excitement and frustration in their recent clash against the Boston Celtics on Friday night.
As the final seconds of the game ticked away, hopes were high for a game-winning shot from De’Aaron Fox or Keegan Murray. Unfortunately for the Kings, both attempts rimmed out, only to be followed by guard Colby Jones' hopeful tip-in, which was met with a harsh blow to the face. Despite the clear contact, no foul was called by the NBA referees, sealing the Kings’ fate with a narrow 101-100 loss at TD Garden.
Sacramento's head coach, Mike Brown, didn't hold back his frustration with the officiating, expressing his disappointment in a post-game interview. "Fox got a great look, Keegan had a good look on the follow-up and then Colby gets smacked right in the face with 1.7 seconds to go," Brown lamented to reporters. Despite his pleas for a foul, his objections were dismissed by the officials.
The defeat against the Celtics came amidst a stretch of inconsistent performances for the Kings. Earlier, they squandered a commanding 21-point lead against the New York Knicks, further highlighting their struggles to maintain momentum throughout games.
Reflecting on the loss, De’Aaron Fox acknowledged the missed opportunity, stating, "Obviously, you’d love to walk away with a win, knowing the position that we’re in right now in the standings, but we let that win get away from us."
With the NBA play-in tournament on the horizon and the Kings securing a top-10 seed in the Western Conference following other results, Sacramento's focus now shifts to their remaining regular-season games and playoff preparations. However, the bitter taste of Friday's defeat and the controversies surrounding officiating serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of their season.
As the Kings continue their journey, navigating through ups and downs, they remain determined to stay resilient and make their mark in the postseason. But for now, they must come to terms with the twists and turns of their rollercoaster season, hoping that their final destination leads to success on the court.
Just In
