Patrick Beverly grabbed a camera from someone’s courtside and pointed it at referee Eric Lewis to show him what everyone who had watched the replay knew: LeBron James had been fouled for missing a layup at the last minute. of regular time.
Instead of convincing Lewis, Beverly was called for a technical foul that gave Boston the lead going into overtime. The Celtics took advantage of the situation.
“The best player in the world fails to get a foul committed against him penalized. It’s unbelievable,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “As much as one does not try to blame the referees, it becomes more and more difficult.”
Jaylen Brown had 37 points, including three on a tying play with 4.1 seconds left in regulation, and Boston snapped a three-game skid with a 125-121 victory over Los Angeles on Saturday.
Brown added 11 points in overtime for the NBA-leading Celtics. He added nine rebounds.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half of a give-and-take encounter in which the lead changed hands 19 times — six in the fourth quarter. The score was tied 15 times.
James had 41 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Anthony Davis had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Beverly scored 15 points giving the Lakers the lead twice in the final minute of regulation. However, he missed a free throw that could have clinched the win and committed the technical foul late in the fourth quarter.
James was furious at what happened, both in extra time and after it, in the locker room.
“I don’t understand. I don’t understand what we’re doing, and I watch basketball every day,” said the star, who covered his head with a towel for much of overtime and kept his head down as he spoke in front of his locker. “I watch matches every day and I don’t see this happening to anyone else. It’s crazy.”
