The NBA denied the Sacramento Kings' protest of a Nov. 13 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies that came on a relatively controversial buzzer-beater by Memphis guard Courtney Lee.
Kings lose protest of Grizzlies’ win on Courtney Lee buzzer-beater
A review by the NBA determined the Sacramento Kings indeed lost to the Memphis Grizzlies on a bizarre buzzer-beater.
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In a statement, the league said commissioner Adam Silver determined the shot by Lee was within the officials’ judgment and “not a misapplication of the playing rules. Sacramento’s protest therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of overturning the game’s result.”
The Grizzlies mounted a furious comeback in the 111-110 win but trailed by a point with 0.3 seconds left on the game clock. An inbounds pass by Vince Carter found a backcutting Courtney Lee, who flipped the ball up and in before the buzzer sounded. While the shot clock may not have been running as soon as Lee caught the pass and Sacramento's Ryan Hollins may have even tipped the ball on the inbound, there seemed to be no way the NBA could overturn an entire game by reviewing such close calls.
Here’s a refresher of the play from a few weeks back.
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