NBA referee continues wild week
NBA referee James Williams made another mistake Tuesday night. He’s lucky it wasn’t as costly as his mistake Monday.
With Dallas trailing by one point with just under 24 seconds to go, the Mavericks trapped Cleveland’s Darius Garland. Garland bumped into Green and moved his feet, seemingly a travel or a loose ball foul and Williams called…nothing.
Luckily, Cleveland turned the ball over on the subsequent inbounds play, making the no-call moot. The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report supported the officials, but some Dallas fans were still furious.
Monday, Williams admitted he missed a foul by New York’s Donte DiVincenzo in the final seconds of the Knicks’ win over the Detroit Pistons.
Pistons coach Monty Williams was furious after the game, storming out of his news conference after denouncing the officiating.
Before the All-Star break, Williams also drew the ire of Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who he kicked out of the Clippers’ comeback win over the Warriors. Although Lue later apologized, after the game he said on a viral video that he wanted to “kiss [Williams] in the mouth” for motivating the team.
Overall, it’s been a stressful month for Williams. Perhaps he can relax by taking the Utah Jazz mascot’s mini-ATV out for a ride.
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