The LA Lakers-Denver Nuggets clash on Saturday took a dramatic twist when Austin Reaves intentionally missed two free throws with 5.2 seconds left in regulation, then grabbed the offensive board and sank the floater to send the game into overtime. However, the Last Two Minutes Report for that game indicates that the score and situation could have been quite different.
As per this report, Nuggets forward Spencer Jones “cleanly” stripped the ball from Reaves’ hands during an earlier possession. Based on these findings, no defensive foul should have been called on Jones at the 9.2-second mark of the fourth quarter, when the Nuggets were up 116-113.
Had a non-call ensued, Jones or other Nuggets players might have secured possession of the ball and gotten another opportunity to pad their score.
After this report was released, fans reacted to the implications for Austin Reaves’ last-minute heroics, as well as the outcome of the game and the Nuggets’ defensive strategy.
“Scammed them out of a win yessir”
“They were literally intentionally fouling he grabbed him right when he caught the ball lol that’s why it wasn’t 3 free throws”
“L2M clarifying something that worked in the Lakers favors, this year may be different after all”
“Anything the league can do to try to diminish a great game and make the Lakers look like losers”
“I’m sure lakers fans will cry about this like they did about every game they lost.”
“Oh well, life goes on.”
Thanks to Austin Reaves’ play in the final moments of the fourth quarter, the Lakers avoided a two-point loss after being up by as many as 17 points earlier in the game. In the overtime period, Luka Doncic hit a game-winning jumper to lift his team to a 127-125 victory.
“You’re Not Going to Be a Contender”: Shaquille O’Neal Expresses Disappointment Towards Lakers Despite Austin Reaves Heroics
One person who wasn’t impressed by Reaves’ play was Shaquille O’Neal. Speaking on “Inside the NBA” following the Lakers-Nuggets game, O’Neal offered a grim outlook on his former team after they blew a huge lead.
“If you have to rely on that, you’re not going to win and you’re not going to be a contender. I’m used to playing for coaches who wouldn’t be happy with that game.”
Though the Lakers (42-25) currently hold the no. 3 spot in the Western Conference, O’Neal believes that there remains a lot of work to be done in order for them to cement their status as true contenders.
