NBA says Lakers’ Luka Doncic was fouled late in Game 4 loss

Los Angeles Lakers talisman Luka Doncic was fouled late in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoff loss against Minnesota Timberwolves with 33 seconds remaining on the clock but the referees missed the call, the NBA said on Monday. 

The Lakers were down 114-113 in Sunday’s game when Doncic was tripped by Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels near midcourt. 

Similarly, New York’s Josh Hart fouled Detroit’s Tim Hardaway Jr. on a 3-point shot as time expired in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference series. Hardaway didn’t get free throws and the Knicks won 94-93, with the NBA saying shortly afterward that Hardaway indeed was fouled.

“McDaniels (MIN) steps forward into Doncic’s (LAL) path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance,” the NBA said Monday in its Last Two Minute Report on the Timberwolves-Lakers game. The NBA releases those reports the day after games when the margin is three points or less at any time in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.

Doncic also revealed he got tripped. “I got tripped, for sure,” he said.

If the call had been made by the officials, the Slovenian would have had a chance to level the score or even put the Lakers in front. However, the Lakers ended up losing by 116-113.

To add salt to injury, Minnesota stole LeBron James’ ensuing inbounds pass and Anthony Edwards made two free throws with 10.9 seconds remaining to take the lead.

James said he had hit Edwards on the hand.

“That play happens all the time,” James said after the game. “Hand is part of the ball. That’s what they said. I feel like the hand was a part of that ball.”

The Lakers will host Minnesota in Game 5 on Wednesday.