Phoenix Suns Lose to Rockets After Jermaine O'Neal Goaltends Last-Second Shot

Someone made a huge, tiny mistake.

The Phoenix Suns' Jermaine O’Neal committed an atrocious goaltending violation during Tuesday night’s matchup between the Suns and the Houston Rockets, and it literally couldn’t have come at a worse time. 

With the game tied 98-98 in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, Houston’s James Harden heaved up a heavily contested three-pointer to win the game. The ball took a high hop off the rim, bouncing clear above the backboard. The shot looked destined to skip off the rim on its second bounce, but that’s when O’Neal came in and made sure it did.

O’Neal jumped up and slapped the ball out of the cylinder before the shot had any chance to trickle off, and Houston Rockets players took notice, signaling goaltending to the referees.

Officials took some time to consider before—whammy—making the call and pointing to the scorer’s table to award Houston three points and the game. The response from Phoenix fans? Wry smiles. 

"

LMAO the draft cant come soon enough 4 us RT @stephghost: lmaooo Phoenix lost to the Rockets off a goaltend by Jermaine O'neal at the buzzer

— MG (@manuelxjr) April 10, 2013"

Rules are rules, and if you’re going to slap a last-second, three-point shot off the rim, it’s going to get called.

O’Neal might have been looking to deny Houston an easy putback, but goaltending cuts both ways, and if any Rockets player had lost their head and touched the ball as it bounced around the cylinder... 

Well, it wouldn’t have lost them the game.

The game was over when O’Neal made contact with the ball. That’s what that glowing red box around the backboard means—time’s up, everyone. But the ball didn't have a chance to drop.

Mistakes like this happen in sports, but do they happen to contenders? Or do they happen to 23-55 teams like the Suns, who were playing a postseason-bound Rockets squad?

One can only guess that David Stern has turned on his mind-control device in the name of keeping the doors on the NBA cellar firmly shut.

I always guard the cup with jealous stupidity: Dr__Carson