Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
LeBron James Rants at NBA's Replay Center for Calls, Lakers Lose on Buzzer-Beater
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 7 months ago on
April 23, 2024

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) walks off the court after a loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP/Jack Dempsey)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

DENVER — LeBron James was seeing red after the Los Angeles Lakers watched a golden opportunity slip away.

His frustration wasn’t so much centered on blowing a 20-point lead. Or his late missed 3-pointer that rimmed out with the game tied. Or Jamal Murray’s fadeaway buzzer-beater that gave the Denver Nuggets a 101-99 win over the Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round series Monday night.

James’ anger was more distant — the NBA’s replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey. At the heart of his wrath was a second-half foul of Michael Porter Jr. that was overturned with the league saying MPJ had made only marginal contact on D’Angelo Russell.

“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” said James, whose team heads back to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday facing a 2-0 deficit. “D-Lo clearly gets hit in the face on the drive. What the (expletive) do we have a replay center … it doesn’t make sense. It makes no sense. It bothers me.”

James’ Postgame Interview

James wasn’t his usually expansive self in his postgame interview after the Lakers watched Murray and the Nuggets storm back from a 68-48 hole to capture their 10th straight win over the Lakers.

James had a chance to give the Lakers a lead with around 16 seconds left on a wide open 3-pointer.

“Rimmed out,” lamented James, who finished with 26 points and 12 assists.

Porter grabbed the rebound, setting up Murray’s game-winner, a fadeaway jumper over Anthony Davis as time expired.

James got right to the point after the game.

— On Denver’s comeback, which included being outscored 32-20 in the fourth: “We missed shots. We still got great looks and we just missed them. And they made it.”

— On Russell hitting seven 3s after going 1 for 9 from deep in the series opener: “We never lost confidence in him. D-Lo is D-Lo.”

— On if the Lakers can take anything from this game into Game 3 in L.A.: “Every game is its own challenge.”

— On the challenges after a heartbreaking loss: “Of course it’s a heartbreaking game and you don’t want to lose in that fashion.”

James’ Frustration with the Replay Center

That’s when James began voicing his frustration with the replay center. Earlier in the game, Murray was called for a foul when James drove to the basket, only to have the Nuggets successfully challenge for the foul to be waved off.

In his replay-center rant, James referenced Monday’s earlier game, when the New York Knicks rallied in the final 30 seconds for a wild 104-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks got the go-ahead 3-pointer from Donte DiVincenzo with 13 seconds left, a possession that started when they stole the ball from Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid said Maxey was fouled, and also that coach Nick Nurse and some players had attempted to call timeout before the Knicks got the ball.

“What are we doing?” James said as he ended his postgame interview.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

DON'T MISS

If You Thought Trump Wasn’t Serious About Deportations, Look at His First Appointments

DON'T MISS

Biden EPA to Charge First-Ever ‘Methane Fee’ for Emissions Waste by Oil and Gas Companies

DON'T MISS

Trump Picks Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to Be Ambassador to Israel

DON'T MISS

At the Pandemic’s Start, Americans Began Drinking More. They Still Are.

DON'T MISS

Last GOP Congressman Anchored in Democratic LA County Concedes in Race Against Former NASA Exec

DON'T MISS

Aid Groups Say Israel Misses US Deadline to Boost Humanitarian Aid Entering Gaza

DON'T MISS

Speaker Mike Johnson Says Republicans Are ‘Ready to Deliver’ on Trump’s Agenda

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Slips as the Trump Trade Cools

DON'T MISS

49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Says Players’ Sideline Spat Has Been ‘Squashed’

UP NEXT

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Will Have Season-Ending Surgery on Torn Hamstring

UP NEXT

Rams’ Offensive Woes Resurface in Loss to Dolphins, Snapping Win Streak

UP NEXT

John Robinson, Successful Football Coach at USC and With the LA Rams, Has Died at 89

UP NEXT

Lakers’ Anthony Davis Sidelined by Eye Injury After Blocking Dunk Attempt

UP NEXT

Curry Scores 36, OKC Loses Holmgren to Hip Injury in Warriors’ Win Over Thunder

UP NEXT

CeeDee Lamb Throws Shade After Losing the Ball in the Sun as Jerry Jones Bristles Over Curtains

UP NEXT

Rookie Jared Verse Is a Battering Ram, Sacking QBs and Talking Trash for LA

UP NEXT

Justin Herbert Has TDs Passing and Rushing as Chargers Beat Titans for 3rd Straight Win

UP NEXT

Moody Shrugs Off 3 Missed FGs to Kick 49ers Past Buccaneers in McCaffrey’s Season Debut

UP NEXT

Air Force Rushing Dominates Bulldogs, Putting Fresno State’s Season in Jeopardy

Trump Picks Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to Be Ambassador to Israel

41 mins ago

At the Pandemic’s Start, Americans Began Drinking More. They Still Are.

1 hour ago

Last GOP Congressman Anchored in Democratic LA County Concedes in Race Against Former NASA Exec

1 hour ago

Aid Groups Say Israel Misses US Deadline to Boost Humanitarian Aid Entering Gaza

1 hour ago

Speaker Mike Johnson Says Republicans Are ‘Ready to Deliver’ on Trump’s Agenda

2 hours ago

Wall Street Slips as the Trump Trade Cools

2 hours ago

49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Says Players’ Sideline Spat Has Been ‘Squashed’

2 hours ago

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Will Have Season-Ending Surgery on Torn Hamstring

2 hours ago

Judge Delays Ruling on Whether to Scrap Trump’s Conviction in Hush Money Case

2 hours ago

Songwriters Hall of Fame Unveils Star-Studded 2025 Nominees, From Eminem to Janet Jackson

2 hours ago

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

A landmark from days of old when Merced was known as “Fountain City” is back, fully restored for new generations to appreciate. ...

28 mins ago

28 mins ago

Merced’s Iconic Laura Fountain Returns to Splendor With $300K Restoration

32 mins ago

If You Thought Trump Wasn’t Serious About Deportations, Look at His First Appointments

40 mins ago

Biden EPA to Charge First-Ever ‘Methane Fee’ for Emissions Waste by Oil and Gas Companies

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee during a roundtable at the Drexelbrook Catering & Event Center, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in Drexel Hill, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
41 mins ago

Trump Picks Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to Be Ambassador to Israel

1 hour ago

At the Pandemic’s Start, Americans Began Drinking More. They Still Are.

1 hour ago

Last GOP Congressman Anchored in Democratic LA County Concedes in Race Against Former NASA Exec

1 hour ago

Aid Groups Say Israel Misses US Deadline to Boost Humanitarian Aid Entering Gaza

2 hours ago

Speaker Mike Johnson Says Republicans Are ‘Ready to Deliver’ on Trump’s Agenda

Search

Send this to a friend