Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James had his riveting duel with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry interrupted in the fourth quarter Saturday by official reviews and shot clock malfunctions. LOS ANGELES — A classic, nationally televised duel between Stephen Curry and LeBron James was spoiled Saturday when three replay reviews and four shot clock malfunctions interrupted the fourth quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ 128-121 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James hit a RIDICULOUS stepback three but it was taken off the board as he stepped out of bounds 😱Adding further complication and delay: The referees made the rare determination that a Warriors player and a Lakers player had simultaneously deflected the ball out of bounds on the subsequent play, thereby requiring a jump ball to restart the action.Once the jump ball was tossed, Warriors forward Draymond Green appeared to step on the baseline as he attempted to corral possession.
All told, from the start of the first video review to the end of the final shot clock malfunction, it took 18 minutes 42 seconds to play 15 seconds of game action.After a LONG delay, it was determined the clock would be kept via stopwatch, with PA man Lawrence Tanter counting down the time.During the interminable stoppage, James slammed the ball to the court in frustration and then threw it to the ceiling in dismay.
Though the Warriors were the beneficiaries of James’s erased three-pointer, Kerr said he doesn’t like the retroactive review process and would “love to see that rule go away.” As for the shot clock malfunctions, Curry and Thompson both said they wished the referees had decided more quickly to have Tanter announce the time.