The Washington Wizards surely had a gripe at Wednesday night’s officiating against the Brooklyn Nets. In what turned into a close game down the stretch, one particular play will be highlighted, as a Nets assistant interfered in a play that led to a costly Wizards’ turnover.
The Wizards had possession of the basketball down 109-103 with just over five minutes to play. Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma spotted up in the corner. Wizards guard Spencer Dinwiddie swung a pass to Kuzma. However, Nets assistant coach David Vanterpool stuck his hand out, deflecting the pass.
The ball ultimately landed in the Nets rookie forward Kessler Edwards’ hand for a turnover. Kuzma raced down the line to foul Patty Mills to stop the fastbreak before turning his attention to the officials to explain what happened.
Dinwiddie also jumped in voicing his displeasure to no avail. Kuzma had an open lane to drive along the baseline. Instead the play will show up as a turnover by Kuzma and a steal for Edwards on the stat sheet. That’s despite official Ben Taylor apparently having a clear view of the sequence.
WHAT DOES THE REF NOT SEE pic.twitter.com/xGq4ZkLvrb
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The Wizards got over the blatant missed call to cut the deficit to one following a three pointer from Kuzma. However, the Wizards fell to the Nets 119-118 after a frantic finish that included Dinwiddie missing a potential game-winning three at the buzzer.
In a one-point loss, officials missing the deflection was a tough pill to swallow for Wizards acting coach Joseph Blair.
“My reaction was utter disbelief,” Blair said per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Blair said Taylor’s explanation was he didn’t see the deflection, if it happened. Again, considering he was standing in prime position, don’t expect Blair or anyone from the Wizards to accept it.
