LeBron goes off on officiating, replay: 'It bothers me'
LeBron James expressed his frustration with the NBA's replay center and officiating after the Los Angeles Lakers' 101-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 on Monday night.
"I don't understand what's going on in the replay center, to be honest," James said.
LeBron is pissed
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 23, 2024
"I don't understand what's going on in the replay center, to be honest... What the fuck do we have a replay center... Makes no sense to me. It bothers me." pic.twitter.com/wMlSis1gvw
James specifically voiced his irritation about a foul call on Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. that was overturned after a challenge, where he appeared to make contact with Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell's face.
Michael Porter Jr. hit D'Angelo Russell in the face. MPJ was called for a foul which was then challenged.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 23, 2024
Nuggets won the challenge.
Thought? 🤔pic.twitter.com/X01ufZXX4g
"DLo clearly gets hit in the face on a drive," James said. "What the f--k do we have a replay center (for) if it's going to go (like that)? It doesn't make sense to me. ... It bothers me."
Russell seemed to comment on the reversed call on social media, writing, "That's a foul we all saw it on national television."
James also referenced the controversy surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks after Sixers coach Nick Nurse said he called timeout before New York's steal on a late inbounds pass, which led to Donte DiVincenzo's go-ahead bucket.
The Lakers relinquished a 20-point lead, capped by Jamal Murray's buzzer-beater to put the Nuggets up 2-0 in the first-round series.
The rematch of the Nuggets' sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference finals turns to L.A. for Game 3 on Thursday.