The Philadelphia 76ers have announced their intention to file a grievance regarding the officiating during their recent series against the New York Knicks. The decision comes after the 76ers suffered back-to-back losses in New York, with the Knicks securing a 104-101 victory in the most recent game on Monday night.
In the closing moments of the game, the Knicks capitalized on a crucial possession that ultimately led to the go-ahead 3-pointer by Donte DiVincenzo with just 13 seconds remaining. The sequence began with a turnover as the Knicks stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey, who was unable to secure the inbounds pass while under pressure from Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
Following the game, 76ers' star Joel Embiid voiced his frustration, asserting that Maxey had been fouled during the play. Embiid also claimed that attempts were made by coach Nick Nurse and some players to call a timeout before the Knicks gained possession. The All-Star center expressed his displeasure with the officiating, using strong language to describe it as unacceptable.
This incident comes in the wake of a previous protest by the Knicks over a game against the Houston Rockets on February 12. Despite contesting a crucial foul call that led to their defeat, the NBA ultimately denied the protest, citing that referee errors do not warrant overturning game results.
Notably, the Knicks have taken to including detailed breakdowns of officiating crews in their game notes during the playoffs. These breakdowns feature the team's record with specific officials, as well as statistics highlighting the frequency of calls made by the referees and the rate at which those calls are challenged.
As the situation unfolds, both teams continue to focus on their playoff aspirations, with the 76ers looking to bounce back from their recent losses and the Knicks aiming to maintain their competitive edge in the postseason.
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