Reviewing six missed or incorrect calls late in Kings-Magic double overtime game

NBA officials are humans. They are going to miss calls or blow their whistles for incorrect ones from time to time, and that’s part of the game. But, in the Sacramento Kings 138-135 double-overtime victory over the Orlando Magic Wednesday night, the NBA Two-Minute Report lists six incorrect or missed calls from the final two minutes of regulation onward.

Of the six missed calls, four favored the Kings, while two favored the Magic. The first came with six seconds left, tied at 118, while Orlando had the ball.

After the inbound, the report claims that Jalen Suggs “slides his pivot foot to create space,” which should have been ruled a travel but was not called.

Thread of the six incorrect calls and no-calls listed on the two-minute report from last night’s Sacramento-Orlando matchup.

Four were in favor of the Kings, while two benefited the Magic.

(Q4 6.0): “Suggs slides his pivot foot to create space.”

No travel was called. pic.twitter.com/CUEjlAZUgS

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 5, 2024

Suggs missed the shot afterward, resulting in added time, but a correct whistle could have resulted in the Kings regaining possession with seconds remaining.

The second blunder came with 25 seconds remaining in the first overtime. Malik Monk cuts toward the ball handler, seemingly planning to set a screen for De’Aaron Fox. On his way there, he made contact with Trevelin Queen and the whistle was blown.

According to the NBA’s report, “Queen and Monk meet at the same spot and briefly engage in marginal contact off-ball.”

(OT1 25.0): “Queen and Monk meet at the same spot and briefly engage in marginal contact off-ball.”

It was incorrectly called a foul, resulting in the Kings’ inbounding. (see possession below) pic.twitter.com/IPlcFhpU99

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 5, 2024

The Kings were not in the bonus, so no free throws were awarded, but they inbounded the ball again. The next possession, another incorrect no-call occurred, favoring Sacramento.

According to the report, Domantas Sabonis should have been called for an offensive foul prior to his bucket that gave them a late one-point lead.

(OT1 21.6): “After the dribble handoff, Sabonis establishes himself in Queen’s path before the contact. However, Sabonis after assuming a legal position, he moves toward Queen by turning his body, and a foul was warranted.”

It was not called a foul and led to 2pts for SAC. pic.twitter.com/vFGFBHirqR

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 5, 2024

“After the dribble handoff, Sabonis establishes himself in Queen’s path before the contact. However, Sabonis after assuming a legal position, he moves toward Queen by turning his body, and a foul was warranted.”

Queen can be seen hitting the floor after colliding with Sabonis, resulting in a cut under his eye. At the time, Magic players were unhappy with the lack of a whistle.

The next time down the floor, Paolo Banchero drove into the lane and collided with Trey Lyles, which was ruled a charge at the time.

(OT1 3.1): “Banchero loses control of the ball on his gather without any contact occurring to him by a defender and it sails out of bounds. Banchero is last to touch the ball and possession should have been awarded to the Kings.”

Again, a pivotal missed call. ORL scored after. pic.twitter.com/vuuTO9aWeh

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 5, 2024

The two-minute report claims that was an incorrect call. “After releasing the shot, Banchero’s left hand comes down onto Lyles’ body and marginal contact occurs after Lyles’ legal contest,” it reads.

While Banchero missed the shot attempt, he had secured the offensive rebound and would have had another opportunity to make a play if the call had not been made.

After the Kings managed to make one free-throw attempt on the other end, Orlando brought the ball down the floor, down two with 7.6 seconds remaining.

As Banchero drives to the rim, it appeared that Juan Toscano-Anderson made contact with the ball, forcing it to fly out of bounds. The in-game officials determined it would remain Magic ball, but that was clearly incorrect upon replay — confirmed as a missed call in the two-minute report.

(OT1 3.1): “Banchero loses control of the ball on his gather without any contact occurring to him by a defender and it sails out of bounds. Banchero is last to touch the ball and possession should have been awarded to the Kings.”

Again, a pivotal missed call. ORL scored after. pic.twitter.com/vuuTO9aWeh

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 5, 2024

After retaining possession, Orlando tied the game with 1.1 seconds left on the clock. Sacramento had one final attempt in the first overtime period, but Monk missed a quality look from the corner. According to the two-minute report, Sabonis was also not called for an illegal screen on that play.

“Sabonis initially establishes himself in Black’s path, but then extends into his path as he attempts to avoid the screen,” it says.

(OT1 1.1): Sabonis initially establishes himself in Black’s path, but then extends into his path as he attempts to avoid the screen.”

Monk missed the shot anyways, but ORL could have had another shot if it was called. pic.twitter.com/rjVvORnPAc

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 5, 2024

Luckily, no calls in the second overtime were deemed incorrect or missed. Yet, five blunders in the final 30.3 seconds of the first overtime is a tough pill to swallow.

Again, officials are human and should not be expected to be perfect, but their shortcomings added to an already dramatic finish in Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento’s four-game homestand will continue on Friday night when the new-look Toronto Raptors come to town.

Toronto recently acquired forward RJ Barrett and guard Immanuel Quickly from the New York Knicks in return for two-way star OG Anunoby in a move that has given the Raptors a new young core to build around.

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Raptors coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from Golden 1 Center.

Upcoming Schedule

• Friday, January 5th – Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 PM PST
• Sunday, January 7th – Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 3:00 PM PST
• Tuesday, January 9th – Sacramento Kings @ Detroit Pistons – 4:00 PM PST
• Wednesday, January 10th – Sacramento Kings @ Charlotte Hornets – 4:00 PM PST
• Friday, January 12th – Sacramento Kings @ Philadelphia 76ers – 4:30 PM PST

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