LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been left fuming after an overturned decision in the last minute went against them, with the call labelled “total BS” by Lakers coach Frank Vogel.
Terance Mann had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Amir Coffey added 12 of his 14 in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Clippers returned from the All-Star break with a 105-102 victory over the Lakers.
Luke Kennard scored 18 points for the Clippers. They earned their sixth consecutive victory over the Lakers in the latest meeting between Los Angeles’ two underachieving, injury-plagued NBA franchises as they begin the next push to salvage their seasons.
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After trailing by as many as 16 points late in the first half, the Lakers got themselves back into the game on the back off a strong defensive second half.
The Lakers were trailing the Clippers 103-102 with 25.6 seconds left when Clippers coach Tyronn Lue challenged an out of bounds ruling from the referees under the Lakers’ basket.
After a lengthy review, the ball was given to the Clippers after replays appeared to show James’ right foot out of bounds as he attempted to release the ball.
“I disagree strongly with the ruling. I think it’s total BS,” said Vogel after the game when asked about the call.
“That rule has never been explained to me, and I know every rule in this game,” James later added.
“I never knew that you could challenge a play that wasn’t called on the floor, and that’s essentially what happened.”
The win meant the Clippers moved one game ahead of the Lakers in the loss column while clinching the season series victory in this local derby. Both advantages could be important at playoff time for two teams that appear headed for the play-in tournament if they make the postseason at all.
Carmelo Anthony missed a long go-ahead jumper with 4 seconds to play and James missed a tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer for the Lakers, who fell five games under .500 with their fourth loss in five games.
James had 21 points and 11 rebounds while Anthony and Russell Westbrook scored 18 points apiece for the Lakers, who trailed by 16 points late in the first half before nursing a small lead for most of the fourth quarter. Anthony hit four 3-pointers in his first game since February 3 after missing three weeks with a strained hamstring.
After Coffey’s free throws put the Clips ahead with 1m 5s to play, the Lakers went back ahead on Austin Reaves’ two free throws, but Marcus Morris drilled a jumper under tight defence.
After two lengthy replay reviews, the Clippers committed an eight second violation with 17.8 seconds left, but Anthony missed a 3-pointer from well behind the line with four seconds to play.
Reggie Jackson hit two free throws, and James couldn’t tie it with his final heave. Jackson scored 17 points for the Clippers, who won three of four going into the break despite being without likely their three best players: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and newly acquired Norman Powell.
Talen Horton-Tucker scored all 16 of his points in the second half, while Dwight Howard had season-highs of 14 points and 16 rebounds as the Lakers began yet another stretch without Anthony Davis, who sprained his right foot in their final game before the break nine days ago.
Davis will be out for at least another month after missing 21 of the Lakers’ first 58 games with other woes.