The NBA world often sees controversy and debate, both on and off the court. Decisions during a match have sometimes caused such reactions later, with players, coaches and fans alike getting themselves involved. Debate over officiating in a match mostly goes against one team and associated people, who are often witnessed being targeted after the game.
One such scenario recently went viral, originating from an Eastern Conference game. The Miami Heat faced the New York Knicks and a question regarding a decision made by the referee started doing the rounds. Interestingly, a Miami Heat player weighed in for what is evidently the wrong side of the argument according to fans.
But first, let us take a look at the game that bore the dispute.
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Heat vs Knicks – a tie worth every penny
In an Eastern Conference matchup, Miami Heat faced New York Knicks in a thriller of a game. While the match was already set to be a big clash, as the seventh-placed Heat faced number 5 on the table, it became a huge entertainer.
The Heat were playing at home, but the odds still seemed tilted against them, given their recent performance – one win in the last seven games. Their opponents’ unbeaten streak of seven wins did not help either. The Knicks seemed sure-shot favorites.
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Even with this skew, the match went on to become a nail-biter, seeming like a tug of war among the players. A lot of tension was apparent, and after what proved to be a close fight, the Knicks were able to register a win. But Tyler Herro, the Heat’s point guard, got involved in an incident that led him to endorse a claim alleging improper officiating later.
Fans react to a claim and its endorsement by Tyler Herro
While the final score was 120-122, the referee was blamed for the Miami Heat’s defeat by some fans. A post on Twitter echoed the complaint and shared a video of Herro going past a defender to score a two-pointer during the game, while his foot touches the boundary-line. The referee declared the move to be out of bounds.
Herro replied to the post, advocating its claim using two words -?“That’s horrible” Interestingly, his response received sarcastic comments and troll-like reactions from fans:
It’s comical that the Heat are complaining about officiating after that game.
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) March 4, 2023
You literally shot two free throws because you fell down after running into your own teammate https://t.co/32Jt5WRXsQ
— Did the Knicks Win? (@knickswintrack) March 4, 2023
Is that you getting the smoke? pic.twitter.com/4RShnQYTnx
— KnickNova (@KnickNova) March 4, 2023
— Bankai (FINISHED THE STORY!) 🇪🇨🇵🇷 (@New_Tape_City) March 4, 2023
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Karma for all those FTs y’all didn’t earn. pic.twitter.com/NafoksMNK4
— Charley Hustle (@Charley_Hustle1) March 4, 2023
Fans may be exaggerating a tad bit from the comfort of their keyboards, but the Heat have now lost two back-to-back games – while the Knicks have won eight games in a row. Whether the Miami Heat are able to turn the tide around and qualify for the playoffs remains to be seen. The Knicks’ place in the playoffs, on the other hand, is more or less solidified. As such, it was an important match to have seen an officiating-related dispute.
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Also read: Why Would Tyler Herro Consider a Jimmy Butler Face Tattoo on His Body?
Do you think it would have made any difference if the 2-pointer by Tyler Herro would have been counted? Do let us know in the comments below!