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Bizarre Clock Malfunctions Extend Lakers Loss to Warriors
The game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers took an unexpected turn in the final minutes, with multiple clock malfunctions and replay reviews causing significant delays.
Unusual Delays
With just under two minutes left in the game, the Lakers, trailing 124-120, challenged an out-of-bounds call that led to a jump ball situation between Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes and Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins. During the review process, it was determined that a corner 3-pointer made by LeBron James earlier in the game was invalid, further complicating the situation.
LeBron James expressed his frustration with the ruling, noting the impact on their momentum. This incident was reminiscent of a similar situation in a previous game, where another crucial shot by James was downgraded after review.
Crew chief David Guthrie explained the ruling regarding James’ shot, citing a specific rule that determined the outcome based on the position of the player’s feet at the moment of release. Despite the overturned 3 benefiting the Warriors, their coach Steve Kerr criticized the replay rules, arguing that they disrupt the flow of the game unnecessarily.
Despite the challenges, James defended the spirit of the replay rules, emphasizing the importance of getting calls right. The game continued with more delays, including a shot clock malfunction, multiple inbound attempts, and audience unrest due to the prolonged stoppages.
Game Fallout
The clock issues culminated in confusion and frustration for both players and fans, with Warriors ultimately securing a 128-121 victory over the Lakers. The outcome reshuffled the teams’ positions in the Western Conference standings, highlighting the significance of every win as the season winds down.
While clock malfunctions are a rare occurrence, they can significantly impact the dynamics of a game, as evidenced by this dramatic encounter between the Warriors and the Lakers. Both teams will need to regroup and refocus as they navigate the remaining games of the season.
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