NBA Referees: Missed Foul Call on Lakers' LeBron James 'Is Gut-Wrenching for Us'

The referees working Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics at TD Garden missed a clear foul by Jayson Tatum on LeBron James in the final seconds of the fourth quarter that would have given the four-time NBA champion a chance to win the game for his team from the free-throw line.

Crew Chief Eric Lewis admitted after the game that they missed the call, and now the official Twitter account for NBA referees released a statement on the matter, calling the non-call "gut-wrenching."

With less than two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, James drove into the paint for a layup and was swarmed by a group of Celtics, including Tatum. When James went up for the shot, Tatum caught his arm as he attempted to swat the ball away.

If the referees had made the call, James more than likely would have won the game for the Purple and Gold, which could use any victory it can get at this point in the season. Instead, they fell to the Celtics 125-121 in overtime to drop to 23-27 in the Western Conference.

It's rare when an NBA referee openly admits a mistake, but this was an obvious missed call that almost surely robbed the Lakers a win in the opening game of an important five-game Eastern Conference road trip.

While speaking with reporters after the loss, James, Anthony Davis and head coach Darvin Ham were among the members of the Lake Show to air out their frustrations with the missed call.

"I don't get it," James said, per Daniel Chavkin of Sports Illustrated. "I'm attacking the paint, just as much as any of the guys in this league that's shooting double-digit free throws a night, and I don't get it. I don't understand it."

Davis added: "It's bulls--t. It's unacceptable. ... We got cheated tonight."

"As much as you try not to put it on officiating, it's becoming increasingly difficult," Ham said.

The Lakers will look to get back on track against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night at Barclays Center. However, it's going to be a pretty difficult matchup for the Purple and Gold as it will be without both James and Davis because of injuries.