Patrick Patterson Seeks Apology from NBA After Game-Tying Shot Is Overturned

Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson addressed the officiating in Sunday's controversial 102-99 loss to the Sacramento Kings in a series of tweets sent early Monday morning (warning: NSFW language):

"

Please explain to me how T Ross shot doesn't count.. @NBA

— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) November 21, 2016"

Toronto guard Terrence Ross appeared to tie the game at 102-102 as time expired by knocking down a three-point shot, but his shot was waved off upon review. Officials determined the timekeeper did not properly begin the game clock after Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins tipped the inbounds pass intended for Ross.

After an extensive review, the officials determined 2.5 seconds had elapsed between Cousins' tip and Ross' shot—0.1 seconds longer than what was remaining on the game clock. Crew chief Mike Callahan said they determined that by a "digital timer on the screen in the replay center, from different angles."

Callahan reviewed the play along with officials in the NBA's replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey. 

"I've got to hear another explanation better than that because we reviewed it about 10 times in there," Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "Even if the clock started once DeMarcus Cousins deflected it, T-Ross caught it, shot it and still had shot it at 0.5 [seconds] with plenty of time."

Even if the officials made the correct call at the time, one could argue the Raptors should have had even more time. Another clock malfunction on the Kings' previous possession allowed 0.9 seconds to run off undetected. The clock operator improperly reset the shot clock after a Cousins rebound of a Kyle Lowry missed free throw.

Cousins grabbed the rebound with 27.3 seconds remaining; the Raptors, in theory, should have had 3.3 seconds to shoot their final shot rather than 2.4. Neither Toronto nor the officiating crew noticed the mistake in real time, so the play was allowed to stand.

The NBA will likely address the matter in full later Monday with its daily last-two-minute report, which examines all officiating matters in the final two minutes of close games. That report may offer Patterson the explanation he desires, but he's correct in noting it will do nothing to change the scoreboard.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.