Officials had a blatant missed call during Friday’s game between the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers. It appeared to be obvious Wizards center Robin Lopez fouled Jarrett Allen as he went up for a dunk. However, the officials didn’t see it that way.
Following the Wizards’ 120-105 win, Lopez admitted he was surprised the whistle wasn’t blown.
Lopez made contact extending his arms, knocking Allen to the ground. The no-call drew the ire of Cleveland’s head coach JB Bickerstaff. He was even more upset when the Wizards turned the missed dunk into a transition three by Davis Bertans. Bickerstaff continued his chirping, drawing a technical foul.
Further review of the play, it’s apparent Lopez was anticipating the foul being called. He pauses before realizing the officials were letting them play on.
Fortunately, the missed call didn’t shape the outcome of the game. Washington led by 12 at the time with a little more than three-and-half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. But nonetheless it was a five-point swing.
The referees may not have seen a foul, but Lopez acknowledges in his own way there should have been a foul called.
