Lakers’ LeBron James sounds off on officiating, replay center

DENVER — After a heartbreaking 101-99 loss in Sport 2 of their first-round playoff collection towards the Denver Nuggets on Monday, LeBron James was considered one of a number of Los Angeles Lakers gamers to criticize the officiating throughout his postgame feedback.

“I do not perceive what is going on on within the replay heart, to be trustworthy,” James stated.

James has voiced his displeasure with the league’s replay course of a number of instances this season, akin to when his foot was dominated to be on the 3-point line in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and out of bounds in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

On Monday evening in Denver, he particularly took difficulty with a taking pictures foul known as towards Michael Porter Jr. on D’Angelo Russell late within the third quarter that was overturned after Nuggets coach Michael Malone challenged the decision.

“D-Lo clearly will get hit within the face on a drive,” James stated. “What the f— do we’ve got a replay heart for if it should go [like that]? It does not make sense to me.”

Russell was seemingly in settlement, writing on X after the sport, “That is a foul all of us noticed it on nationwide tv.”

That is a foul all of us noticed it on nationwide tv.

— D’Angelo Russell (@Dloading) April 23, 2024

L.A. led 79-69 with 39.5 seconds remaining within the third quarter when the foul was overturned, erasing two free throw makes an attempt for Russell. The Lakers level guard shot 82.8% from the free throw line this season.

The missed alternative for 2 factors grew to become that rather more consequential with the way in which the sport ended: Jamal Murray’s fadeaway jumper on the baseline from 16 toes away as time expired delivered Denver a two-point win and 2-0 collection lead.

Crew chief Scott Foster introduced over the general public deal with system that Porter’s contact was “marginal,” and the decision was overturned.

A Lakers supply informed ESPN that James’ foul on Murray with 57.1 seconds left, which rewarded the Nuggets guard two free throws that tied the sport 97-97, additionally could possibly be thought-about “marginal contact.”

“It is mindless to me,” James continued. “It bothers me. … After which I simply noticed what occurred with the Sixers-Knicks recreation too. Like, what are we doing?”

As James (26 factors, 12 assists, 8 rebounds) bought up from the rostrum and headed towards the exit, he added, “It is f—ing silly.”

Whereas L.A. had a 19-6 benefit in free throw makes an attempt in Sport 1, Denver had a 17-13 edge in makes an attempt in Sport 2.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham additionally referenced Lakers heart Anthony Davis’ foul bother; Davis picked up his fourth with 2:41 remaining within the third quarter whereas setting a display on Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. L.A. was up 74-63 on the time, and Ham subbed out Davis to attempt to maintain him from fouling out. At that time, Davis was 14-for-18 from the sector for 32 factors. He tried just one shot — a missed pull-up within the lane halfway via the fourth quarter — the remainder of the sport.

“You possibly can’t have a treatment for foul bother,” Ham stated. “It limits your participant, takes all of the aggression away.”

With Davis’ play affected by his fouls, Denver fought again from a 20-point deficit early within the third quarter. Murray scored 14 of his 20 factors within the fourth, together with his buzzer-beater representing simply the third profitable shot to finish a comeback of 20 or extra factors in an NBA playoff recreation since 2000.

Jokic, who completed with 27 factors, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, additionally did injury down the stretch whereas matched up towards the Lakers’ Rui Hachimura, as Davis was switched off Jokic to keep away from extra fouls.

L.A. was “slowed down” within the fourth quarter, in response to Lakers guard Austin Reaves, as James scored 12 factors on 5-of-9 taking pictures and the remainder of the staff went simply 3-for-9.

James missed his final shot — a 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing with the rating tied at 99 and 16 seconds left.

“Had a wide-open look, and it rimmed out,” James stated. “I imply, it rimmed in, and it rimmed out.”

Denver, in the meantime, went 7-for-7 to shut out the fourth quarter.

The collection now shifts to L.A.’s Crypto.com Enviornment on Thursday, because the Lakers try and snap what’s now a 10-game shedding streak towards the Nuggets.

“Win Sport 3,” Davis stated. “It is that easy. Simply win Sport 3.”

Russell, who bounced again from a 6-for-20 taking pictures efficiency in Sport 1 to attain 23 factors in Sport 2 and tie a franchise postseason file with seven made 3-pointers, expressed confidence transferring ahead.

“We did quite a lot of good issues that gave us a chance to win all evening,” Russell stated. “Got here right down to some issues that we actually could not management. I like our battle.”

For all the pieces that went proper for the Lakers on Monday, there may be loads of room for enchancment. James went 4-for-11 on pictures on the rim, with the seven misses tying probably the most he has had in a playoff recreation since becoming a member of the Lakers. Hachimura went 1-for-7 within the beginning lineup. Denver’s bench outscored L.A.’s reserves 12-6.

“We’ve stretches the place we simply do not know what we’re doing on each ends of the ground,” Davis stated. “And people are those that price us.”

Second-guessing cannot change the collection, nonetheless. Solely getting ready to ship a special final result can.

“Defend house,” James stated. “That is the place my mindset goes. And clearly, the one recreation that issues now’s Sport 3 and the way we will get higher. How we will determine this staff out. So, Sport 3 is the place my mindset is.”

ESPN Stats & Data contributed to this report.