Fans interfering with gameplay is becoming an epidemic

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tyrese Haliburton knocked the ball away from the New York Knicks' OG Anunoby. The ball was headed out of bounds, but it looked like Haliburton had a chance to save it — until the "Man Men" star grabbed it.

Hamm didn't stand up, or particularly reach for the ball, so it may have simply been a reflex. It's essentially the opposite of what infamous Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman did during the 2003 National League Championship Series, reaching out to grab a fly ball headed for left fielder Moises Alou — though Hamm was helping the home team in his effort.

A Minnesota Timberwolves made a more blatant intervention during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals Monday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rebounded Anthony Edwards' intentionally missed free throw, then heaved the ball down the court to run out the clock. As the ball headed out of bounds, a Timberwolves fan stood up and caught it with 0.6 seconds left, presumably to save Minnesota some precious tenths of a second.

Perhaps trying not to reward this fan behavior, the referees set the game clock to 0.3 seconds for Minnesota's final desperation play, which didn't result in a shot attempt. Announcer Doris Burke speculated about whether the fan "broke the plane" of the sidelines, which will hopefully not lead to even more tedious NBA replay reviews.

Hamm, whose "Your Friends and Neighbors" is streaming on Apple TV, might get a boost in viewership from sympathetic Knicks fans. Since the Pacers came back to win Game 1, the show is unlikely to be banned in the state of Indiana. But this is why celebrities have a moral responsibility, and why referees will be watching closely to make sure Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller aren't diving for loose balls during Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.