LeBron James didn’t shy away from ripping the NBA’s officiating after the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
James, who had 26 points and 12 assists in Game 2, couldn’t believe the referees missed a clear foul that Michael Porter Jr. had on D’Angelo Russell in the final minute of action.
Russell gave the Lakers a two-point lead late, but he should’ve had the chance to go to the free throw line for one more since Porter blatantly smacked his face on the drive.
A few moments later, the Lakers would lose on a game-winner from Jamal Murray.
During his postgame press conference, James questioned the NBA’s replay center. He doesn’t think they’re doing their job correctly.
“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” James said, via the New York Post. “D-Lo clearly gets hit in the face on the drive. What the f–k do we have a replay center … it doesn’t make sense. It makes no sense. It bothers me.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest… It makes no sense to me… Then I just saw what happened with the Sixers/Knicks game too, what are we doing?” – LeBron James pic.twitter.com/7OWLmuf8jn
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 23, 2024
Nothing James says at this point will change what happened in Game 2.
The Lakers will need to erase a 2-0 series deficit if they want to advance to the second round of the playoffs.