NBA playoffs 2019: Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni says refs admitted missing calls on 3-point attempts

Arthur Weinstein

NBA playoffs 2019: Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni says refs admitted missing calls on 3-point attempts image

The Rockets were clearly frustrated with the officiating in their Game 1 loss to the Warriors on Sunday.

Chris Paul earned two technicals and an ejection for arguing with officials during the game, and Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni picked up a technical for arguing a no-call in the third quarter.

D'Antoni was not happy, in particular, with officials not calling fouls on Warriors players defending 3-point attempts, as shown here on the aforementioned play in the third quarter.

After the game, D'Antoni says officials admitted to him they missed four such calls in the first half alone.

"They just came at halftime and said they missed them," D'Antoni said. "They missed four of them. That's 12 foul shots."

Golden State held on to win 104-100, so a dozen extra free throws would have easily been the difference for Houston.

The issue throughout the game, for James Harden and the other Rockets long-range shooters, was whether Golden State players gave them room to land after their shots, as on this no-call on a Harden attempt.

Expect this issue to be a hot topic as the series continues Tuesday.

 

Arthur Weinstein