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The Portland Trail Blazers lost a 125-124 overtime heartbreaker to the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. Ordinarily, blowing a 21-point lead at home would be depressing enough, but the Blazers’ disappointment was compounded when eagle-eyed cameras caught Wizards forward Markieff Morris stepping out of bounds immediately before hitting the game winning jump shot in overtime.
HE WAS OUT OF BOUNDS!!!! pic.twitter.com/znPKy91x23
— CSN Northwest (@CSNNW) March 12, 2017
In the postgame media availability, lead referee Rodney Mott admitted to the Oregonian’s Joe Freeman that Morris had stepped out, that the officials had missed the call, and that the play would have been overturned if it had been reviewed by replay. Unfortunately for the Blazermaniacs, Mott also explained that league rules do not allow replay review under these circumstances.
Mott’s full comments can be read here:
Here is the full Q&A with official Rodney Mott. You have to submit questions ahead of time and cannot ask follow-ups. pic.twitter.com/kctq1icP3A
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) March 12, 2017
Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard, and Meyers Leonard have all voiced their displeasure with the game’s outcome.
Terry Stotts, on non-call at end of OT: “It was obvious he stepped out of bounds, and for all intents and purposes, it cost us the game."
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) March 12, 2017
"We're in a playoff race and you can't afford those mistakes." - Stotts
— Cody Sharrett (@CodySharrett) March 12, 2017
‘@Dame_Lillard: “I don’t understand why we have all this technology if we’re not going to review a play that determines a win or loss."
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) March 12, 2017
‘@bosnianbeast27:
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) March 12, 2017
The referees did not do a great job tonight, I think. We tried to win and they did not allow us. I hope they feel bad."
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WARNING: NSFBEdge language on the parent quote.
Meanwhile in Sacramento, the Denver Nuggets beat the Kings 105-92 and now lead the Blazers by 2 games in the race for the no. 8 seed in the Western Conference.