Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley may be credited with the most creative (plus ill-advised) technical foul of the season in Boston’s 125-121 overtime victory on Saturday.
Before the start of overtime and after referees failed to call a foul on Jayson Tatum when it was clear he hit LeBron James’ arm on a potential game-winning shot, Beverley grabbed a camera, walked to referee Eric Lewis and tried to show him James was fouled.
Lewis did not care for Beverley’s attempt to provide evidence of the foul and gave him a technical foul. As Beverley walked back to the Lakers bench, he held the camera in the air while pointing at it and looking back at Lewis.
“I mean, just ridiculous,” ABC’s Mike Breen said. “And Eric Lewis rightfully T’s him up.”
James was quite animated after the no-call – jumping up and down and pleading for a call and then he spent a few seconds kneeling on the court in frustration. Boston’s Tatum made the technical foul free throw to start overtime, helping the Celtics put away the Lakers in OT.
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First-year Lakers coach Darvin Ham was not happy afterward, telling reporters, “As much as you try not to put it on officiating, it’s becoming increasingly difficult,” and added “The best player on earth can’t get a call … It’s amazing.”
Big man Anthony Davis said the Lakers “got cheated tonight.”
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In a pool report after the game, Lewis said that Tatum made contact with James on the final play of regulation but his crew “missed the play.”
“At the time, during the game, we did not see a foul,” Lewis said.
As for Beverley’s technical, Lewis said it was doled out because Beverley’s “actions were inappropriate in addressing resentment to a non-call.”
James finished with 41 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and is just 116 points from tying Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The Lakers play at Brooklyn on Monday and at New York on Tuesday.
