The Toronto Raptors have filed a protest with the NBA of their loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. The Sacramento Kings won that game 102-99 when Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross' game tying 3 pointer was waived off after officials reviewed the play. The win snapped the Sacramento Kings four game losing streak and they beat the Toronto Raptors for the second time this season.
The controversial play started when the game was winding down to its last seconds. With 2.4 seconds remaining, the Sacramento Kings were up by 3, 102-99, and the Toronto Raptors had the ball after a shot clock violation by the Sacramento Kings.
Following a timeout, Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll inbounded the ball and his pass to teammate Terrence Ross was tipped by Sacramento Kings All Star DeMarcus Cousins. Terrence Ross recovered the loose ball, took 2 dribbles and launched a 33 foot three point shot at the buzzer. The shot went in and the Toronto Raptors celebrated.
As per NBA rules regarding a buzzer beating shot, the game officials reviewed the final play with DeMarcus Cousins signaling to referee Mike Callahan that he tipped the ball. Video replays did show that DeMarcus Cousins tipped the ball and the game clock did not move. Referee Mike Callahan, after communicating with the Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, signaled that the shot did not count. Officials at the Replay Center ruled that the game clock should have started when DeMarre Carroll's inbound pass was tipped by DeMarcus Cousins.
Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, who at that time was at the Toronto Raptors bench talking to his team and expecting an overtime game, was livid at the referee's decision. Dwane Casey angrily stormed referee Mike Callahan and demanded an explanation while his counterpart, Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger, was telling his players to get off the floor. Dwane Casey, still furious over the call, later threw his clipboard to the floor while walking off the floor.
After the game, Mike Callahan talked to reporter Tim Bontemps and explained that a clock malfunction led to a review of the play by the Replay Center. Mike Callahan said that "the trigger was a clock malfunction. We had the ball deflected and the clock didn't start."
The protest will cost the Toronto Raptors $10,000. If the NBA ruled in favor of them, the Toronto Raptors will get their money back.
This is the second protest of the 2016-2017 NBA season. The Denver Nuggets also filed a protest of their one point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The NBA hasn't made a decision yet on the Denver Nuggets protest.