The Toronto Raptors have misplaced 27 video games already this season, however Saturday’s defeat by the hands of the Boston Celtics was distinctive even in a season filled with disappointment. In the ultimate 14.1 seconds, Boston wanted two soar balls, and maybe extra importantly, two odd timeout calls, to flee Toronto with a victory.
Things heated up with solely 14.1 seconds remaining. Boston, main 106-104, had simply rebounded a Gary Trent Jr. miss and was trying to get the ball past the half-court mark in order that it may begin operating out the clock and drive a foul. Instead, a poor Payton Pritchard move gave Toronto possession with an apparent benefit by way of numbers. But quite than take benefit, Raptors coach Nick Nurse known as timeout.
It was a questionable name, to say the least. Pritchard was on the bottom and 4 Raptors have been behind the half-court line. In all chance, they might have gotten an excellent have a look at the rim. Instead, they ran a play off of the timeout that resulted in Al Horford blocking Pascal Siakam. A jump-ball was known as within the aftermath, however Nurse disagreed with the decision. He took a timeout to problem the ruling, however no overview got here.
After the sport, Nurse defined what occurred. “My thought course of was to problem it,” he defined to reporters. “It did not appear to be a soar ball to me, it appeared just like the ball received knocked away and Pascal received it again. I requested the referee if I may problem it, he mentioned, ‘If you are taking a timeout you’ll be able to,’ so I mentioned, ‘OK, timeout.’ And then Ed Malloy came to visit and mentioned, ‘You cannot problem a soar ball,’ so I mentioned, ‘OK, no timeout.’ Then the unique referee, Michael Smith, mentioned, ‘You’re taking your timeout, you known as it.'”
Nurse was given incorrect info earlier than calling his timeout, however on the identical time, as a coach, he’s liable for figuring out the principles. The proven fact that he did not got here again to hang-out him. A second soar ball was known as after the primary, however when the mud settled, Jaylen Brown was fouled with 3.8 seconds left. Toronto was given new life when Grant Williams dedicated a foul previous to the inbounds move, which turned two seemingly free throws right into a Raptors possession. However, together with his timeouts spent, Nurse could not advance the ball or draw up a play. Without a timeout, the Raptors could not reap the benefits of their success and turned the ball over with out placing up a shot.
Boston escaped with the 106-104 victory, and the Raptors, in a season filled with heartbreaking losses, may need simply had their worst one but.
