The clock at Toyota Center read 0.0, the last-second shot by Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox was way off, and fans erupted as the host Houston Rockets were up on the scoreboard, 128-127. It appeared to be a rare bright spot during another rebuilding season.
But Wednesday’s happy scene didn’t last thanks to Ray Acosta, whose whistle couldn’t even be heard over the roar.
Acosta, one of three on-court officials, whistled a foul on Rockets guard Eric Gordon. The contact was minimal, and Fox had kicked his right leg backward, in Gordon’s direction, seemingly in hopes of a call. But once the whistle was blown, little could be changed.
The officials went to the monitor, but all that could be replayed was the time on the clock at the time of the whistle. Whether the call was accurate could not be reviewed without Houston using a coach’s challenge, which Stephen Silas could not do since he had already used one. In a rare postgame interview with a pool reporter, crew chief Gediminas Petraitis said he believed the call was correct.
Whatever the case, the whistle was blown at 0.3, and Fox — a great shooter — buried all three free throws to give the Kings a 130-128 victory (box score). Sacramento improved to 31-23, while Houston dropped its fourth straight game to fall to an NBA-worst 13-42.
To no surprise, fans watching the game — and especially those in Houston, partial to the Rockets — exploded upon witnessing the surreal scene. Here’s a real-time look at how it all went down.
Refs should be ashamed of themselves. That is horrible! The fact you can’t look at if it is a foul or not but can look at if it’s time left is ridiculous pic.twitter.com/L79yN6nZUf
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 9, 2023
Silas is about to lose it on this crew. Gordon never touched Fox
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 9, 2023
NBA officiating is embarrassing. https://t.co/EgEzIhhCRq
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 9, 2023
Stephen Silas on the controversial foul call on Eric Gordon in the final seconds that cost the Rockets the win: “I thought Eric played it great. I thought he played it great.” pic.twitter.com/CN5VGy3kcZ
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 9, 2023
If what Harrison Barnes did to Jalen Green was not a foul there is absolutely no way what Eric Gordon did to Fox is a foul. But @OfficialNBARefs will do whatever they want.
— Andrew Soukup (@asoukuptx) February 9, 2023
I wonder if that Houston loss will be getting a full week's worth of non stop coverage and an @OfficialNBARefs apology like LeBron got
— Nathan Fogg (@NathanFogg1) February 9, 2023
"Please don't ask me any questions where I will get fined."
– Stephen Silas after the foul call on Eric Gordon in the final second. Didn't look like Gordon made contact with De'Aaron Fox.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) February 9, 2023
A fan threw something at the officials on the way out of the arena. Rockets personnel is chasing after the fan
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 9, 2023
😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) February 9, 2023
That, is what we call in the streets some h** a** s***. #Rockets
— B.Scott (@brandonkscott) February 9, 2023
LOSE SLEEP @OfficialNBARefs
— Rocketgirl (@00rocketgirl) February 9, 2023
This phantom foul call on Eric Gordon is patently absurd. Game should be over. #Rockets #HTownHoops
— B.Scott (@brandonkscott) February 9, 2023
I’ve never tweeted about officiating but that is….Wow. Wow.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 9, 2023
Better get a public apology for that one
— Felicia Stone (@FeliciaPStone) February 9, 2023
Sleepless nights.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 9, 2023
I feel like every time the rockets challenge a call there ends up being a huge play at the end they can't challenge
— Kyle Chilek (@Kchile22) February 9, 2023
This is one of the worst foul calls I’ve ever seen. I’m okay with the loss because tanking yada yada but this is the type of stuff that makes the NBA an complete and absolute joke. Adam Silver must go. https://t.co/HpzPugmxu4
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) February 9, 2023
I can't believe they called that. I'm in shock man.
— Kyle Chilek (@Kchile22) February 9, 2023
on the verge of a stastistical impossibility loss in Houston
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 9, 2023
Refs really don’t want Rockets to win this one
— Ethan Rothstein (@ethanrothstein) February 9, 2023
That is never a call you make in that situation. Never never never do you blow the whistle there.
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) February 9, 2023
Eric Gordon shows some veteran savvy avoiding a fine when asked about his late-game foul call. pic.twitter.com/qC8EP06ZZs
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) February 9, 2023
Best angle of the Gordon “foul” pic.twitter.com/HXk845DyS9
— heypartner (@theheypartner) February 9, 2023
