NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Referees said they incorrectly called a late kicked ball violation Monday night against the Indiana Pacers, who by rule couldn't challenge the play.
The Pacers and New York Knicks were tied at 115 with 52 seconds remaining when Aaron Nesmith appeared to knock away a pass Jalen Brunson was attempting to throw to Donte DiVincenzo. The Pacers could have come up with the ball for a steal, but referee Sean Wright said Nesmith hit it with his foot, allowing the Knicks to retain possession.
New York took the lead for good 12 seconds later when DiVincenzo made a 3-pointer and of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
After the game, crew chief Zach Zarba said the call was incorrect.
鈥淥n the floor we felt that would be a kicked ball violation,鈥� Zarba said. 鈥淧ostgame review did show that it hit the defender鈥檚 hand, which would be legal.鈥�
Zarba added that the Pacers could not have challenged the call, saying those can only be used for fouls, goaltending calls and out-of-bounds calls.
The Pacers felt a subsequent call went against them, when Myles Turner was called for a offensive foul on a pick that knocked DiVincenzo to the court with 12 seconds to play. Indiana did challenge that one, with the call being upheld on review.
鈥淛ust in my experience in this league I think it鈥檚 best when you let the players decide the outcome of the game,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 unfortunate that it happened ... called it an illegal screen. It鈥檚 the playoffs. I think DiVincenzo did a good job selling it. For the most part you can鈥檛 leave the game to be decided by the refs. We have to take accountability as well. We know at the end of the day we can鈥檛 get to that position.鈥�
The Pacers won their other challenge, getting a foul on Tyrese Haliburton overturned with the game tied at 113-all with 1:51 remaining.
鈥淚 think the two controversial calls, we had to use our challenge on one call (on) Tyrese, then the kicked ball on Aaron Nesmith that was not a kickball. You can clearly see that on the replays,鈥� Turner added. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 unfortunate but we can鈥檛 put ourselves in that position.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press
