Rivers rips officials for non-call that 'could've decided' Game 4

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers reacts after overtime win against the Boston Celtics of Game 4 of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Doc Rivers rips officials for questionable non-call that 'could've decided' Game 4

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated May 7, 2023 8:44 PM ET

The Philadelphia 76ers snuck away with a two-point overtime win in Game 4 Sunday, but head coach Doc Rivers was still upset over an uncalled push-off by Jayson Tatum on a made three-pointer late, which could've changed the outcome.

After the game, a furious Rivers called the lack of a call on the play "awful." He added that the frustration stemmed from several "touch fouls" called against the 76ers on Tatum and Marcus Smart in OT.

"If we're going to call it that way, then you have to call that," Rivers said via Rich Hofmann of The Athletic. "You gotta call that play — I know it's a big play — and I'm a big fan of refs not deciding, but that could've decided the game."

With the Sixers up one, 113-112, Tatum hit a go-ahead three with 37.3 seconds left, but not before appearing to use his forearm to push away guard Tyrese Maxey.

JAYSON TATUM WITH THE BIG TIME TRIPLE

Celtics lead the Sixers by 2 with 26.4 seconds left.pic.twitter.com/TuyCNKvCQX
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 7, 2023

Rivers had a fiery response to the question about Tatum's alleged foul, aggressively shouting at a reporter who failed to take a stance.

"Did you think it was a push-off, I'm asking you?" Rivers said angrily. "Be committed. Did you think it was a push-off? It was a push-off."

Rivers has a legitimate beef, especially considering the stakes on Sunday. A loss by the Sixers, and they're all of a sudden down 3-1 in the series before heading back up to Boston for Game 5.

Luckily for the Sixers, Tatum's big shot didn't come back to haunt them. After helping Philadelphia force overtime with a basket in the final seconds, point guard James Harden nailed a clutch game-winning three-pointer with 18.2 seconds left, evening the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series at two games apiece.

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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