The Philadelphia 76ers are in a tough spot after finding themselves in a 2-0 hole in their opening-round NBA playoff series against the New York Knicks. Dismal officiating played a significant role in their Game 2 collapse, with missed calls impacting the outcome of the game. The NBA’s Last Two Minute report revealed several missed calls by the referees, including a personal foul on Joel Embiid and missed fouls on Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart during a crucial late-game sequence.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was frustrated with the officiating, as he tried to call a timeout before a key inbounds play but was ignored by the referees. The team plans to file a complaint with the league office about the officiating in the first two games of the series, citing multiple concerns with the missed calls. The late-game blown calls, including a missed three-second violation on Knicks forward OG Anunoby, contributed to the Sixers’ loss in Game 2.
Despite the missed calls, the Sixers acknowledge that other factors also played a role in their defeat. They jumped out to an early lead in the game but were unable to maintain their advantage, allowing the Knicks to come back and secure the victory. Joel Embiid struggled with his free-throw shooting, missing key shots that could have impacted the outcome of the game.
While the Sixers have valid reasons to be upset with the officiating, there is little they can do about it at this point. Filing a grievance is not an official protest of the game, and even if they had filed an official protest, the chances of success would have been slim, as history shows that protests are rarely successful in the NBA. Despite the setbacks, Embiid remains confident in the team’s ability to bounce back in the series and secure a win.
Moving forward, the Sixers will aim to avoid more late-game officiating miscues that could cost them another crucial game in the series. With the odds stacked against them, the team will need to regroup and focus on executing their game plan to overcome the deficit and turn the series in their favor. As they head back home for the next games, the Sixers will look to make adjustments and come out strong to keep their playoff hopes alive.
