Getty Image / Justin Ford
Sunday is the final day of the NBA Regular Season, with a lot of playoff seeding still on the line heading into it. But, that may not be the biggest story that comes out of Sunday.
Instead, it’s a unique situation during the Los Angeles Lakers–New Orleans Pelicans game, with big-time seeding implications on the line for both teams. A colossal screw-up by the scorers’ table resulted in something I’ve never seen before.
The Lakers should’ve had two foul shots near the end of the first quarter after the Pelicans committed their second foul in the last two minutes. But, both the referees and scorers’ table missed it, and the Lakers didn’t score on the possession.
Before the start of the 2nd quarter in Lakers-Pelicans, LA was in the bonus late in the 1st quarter and a foul by Larry Nance Jr. should have resulted in free throws for LA.
Taurean Prince went to the line for two free throws before the 2Q started.pic.twitter.com/pcSMeXS3fI
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 14, 2024
The refs caught it at the end of the quarter, and awarded the Lakers two foul shots for Taurean Prince, who was the player fouled.
This is wild — refs didn’t know the Lakers were supposed to shoot free throws when they got fouled with 1:40 left in the 1st quarter.
So they gave them free throws at the end of the quarter since they didn’t score that possession
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 14, 2024
Prince went on to make both foul shots, and the Lakers rolled. They won, 124-108. Now, they will play the Pelicans once again in New Orleans in the 7/8 play-in game on Tuesday. If they win, they’re the 7-seed, and if they lose, they host the winner of the Warriors-Kings play-in game for the 8th and final playoff position.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a triple-double, tallying. 28 points, 17 assists, and 11 rebounds.