John Wall, Bradley Beal: Referees Missed Calls in Game 1 Loss vs. Raptors

The Washington Wizards had a chance to steal the initial game of their first-round series against the top-seeded Toronto Raptors, but they ultimately suffered a hard-fought 114-106 loss on the road.

A couple of their players feel the result may have been different if not for the officiating.

Washington star John Wall revealed he was told the referees missed some calls during the game, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk:

"If I get calls or not, just try to finish plays. That is all I really can do. I think a couple of them [in Game 1] that I did get fouled on, they came to me at halftime and said they [an official] missed two or three of them. I rather you not tell me about it. Just like the Last Two-Minute Report, I rather you not tell me about [fouls that were missed]. Me as a player, I got to do a better job of not worrying about fouls and contact and just try to finish my plays like I usually do in the past.

Bradley Beal, per Youngmisuk, voiced similar thoughts:

"They hold and grab a lot. That is something that will be a different story tonight. Just making sure that I am constantly moving, making them tired, especially when they put Kyle [Lowry] on me, just tire him out as much as possible."

For what it's worth, Lowry was whistled for five fouls Saturday. Beal attempted only one free throw, while Wall went to the line 10 times.

Toronto committed three fewer fouls (21-18) than Washington in Game 1, a total that would have been even had it not been for intentional fouling down the stretch. The Raptors took two more free-throw attempts (20-18) than the Wizards, which again takes into account intentional fouls.

While the fouls were close to even, the Wizards believe the officials let the Raptors get away with over-the-top physicality on their home court. Wall, a five-time All-Star, finished Game 1 with 23 points but shot just 6-of-20. He argues a lack of whistles contributed to his struggles. 

Players can ask a ref to be two things on the court: fair and consistent. Wall hopes officials will call games accordingly as the stakes get higher:

"There is always something new when it comes to [officiating] me, and then I watch other games and those [other] guys get the same type of calls. Like, I watched the game yesterday, a ref [that] had reffed our game that reffed [another playoff game] yesterday was calling so much ticky-tack [fouls]. There's nothing I can control about that. For me as a basketball player I don't make excuses, just go to do a better job of finishing plays."

The league won't look highly upon its stars questioning its refs on the national stage. All eyes will be on the officials in Game 2 on Tuesday night to see how they respond to the Wizards' comments.