Account
Report: Rockets Hope NBA Will Take Action After Missed Call on James Harden Dunk
December 4, 2019
The Houston Rockets are reportedly hopeful that the NBA will make good on an officiating mistake that resulted in a James Harden dunk being ruled a missed shot despite the fact that it went through the hoop during Tuesday night's 135-133 double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Rockets either want to be awarded the victory—since they would have outscored the Spurs in regulation had the dunk counted—or they want the opportunity to replay the final 7:50 of regulation at a later date with a 104-89 lead since that is when the dunk occurred.
CJ McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"
Jordan, Irving & Paul Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA
Boogie, Luka and the Rest of the NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season
Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors
Dwyane Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This NBA Season
OKC’s Russell Westbrook Makes NBA History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle
Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear
29 Years Ago Today, Michael Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points
Chris Bosh Is Getting His No. 1 Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami
Steph Curry Returns to Houston for the First Time Since His Moon Landing Troll
Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year
Step Aside Lakers, Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine
LeBron Passes Jordan on All-Time Scoring List, Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books
Trae Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka Doncic
LeBron James and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album
Miami Heat Legend Dwyane Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February
Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments and Gifts from Steph Curry
Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks
Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Superstar DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans
The NBA All-Star Game Will Be Competitive Again If the League Raises the Stakes
MacMahon added that league sources "scoffed" at the idea of Houston being given the win.
After the botched dunk call, San Antonio outscored Houston 26-13 through the remainder of regulation and went on to win in double OT.
After the game, official James Capers told a pool reporter that the call was missed and added that Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni was not permitted to challenge the call since he took too long to do so:
"When the play happened, Harden goes in for a dunk, and then the ball appears to us to pop back through the net. When that happens, that is basket interference. To have a successful field goal, it must clear the net. We have since come in here and looked at the play. He dunked it so hard that the net carried it back over the rim a second time, so in fact, it did clear the net and should have been a successful field goal.
"As to could the play have been reviewed, it is a reviewable matter, but you have a window of 30 seconds to challenge the play during that timeout that he had, and while they were protesting the call, trying to get clarification of it, that window passed. So, therefore, it elapsed, and they were not able to do it."
Harden finished with a game-high 50 points in the loss, but with the Spurs trio of Lonnie Walker IV, Bryn Forbes and DeMar DeRozan combining for 76 points, San Antonio had enough firepower to pull out the win after the controversy.
In the event that the NBA does reorder the final 7:50 of regulation to be replayed, it would mark the first time that has happened since 2008, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The Atlanta Hawks originally beat the Miami Heat 117-111, but the final 51.9 seconds of the game were replayed four months later since the official scorer incorrectly ruled that Heat center Shaquille O'Neal had fouled out. Atlanta still went on to win 114-111.
As things stand based on Tuesday's result, the Rockets are fifth in the Western Conference at 13-7, while the Spurs are 12th at 8-14.