- LeBron frustrated by controversial NBA replay ruling.
- Lakers lose 108-106 after 3-pointer deemed a 2.
- James questions replay accuracy; unsure for next game (illness).
Despite making what he believed was a clear 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining, the replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey, upheld the decision, resulting in a 108-106 loss for the Lakers. James, visibly frustrated, argued, "It's obviously a 3. My foot is behind the line. I mean, you can see the space between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. So, you know, Stevie Wonder can see that, champ."
James, who battled illness and spent the day in bed, scored 26 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter. His frustration with the replay center intensified as he questioned the purpose of having a replay system if it could still lead to incorrect decisions. "What do we have replay for if even the replay gets it wrong? It's like, who's the part of the replay center? Like, do we got robots in there that's making the Teslas? What's going on? If you don't see that, that is clear, that is clear," he exclaimed.
Official Tony Brothers explained in a pool report that the review wasn't conclusive enough to overturn the call on the floor. Despite James asserting the clarity of the video evidence, Brothers stated, "After video review, there wasn't clear and conclusive evidence to overturn it from a 2 to a 3, and that's why it stood as a 2-point field goal."
The frustration extended beyond the controversial call, as James, uncertain about his health, questioned whether he would be able to play in the Lakers' Sunday afternoon game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The incident adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness and accuracy of NBA's replay processes.
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