Tuesday night’s Eastern Conference Play-In Game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat was the single biggest NBA game of the season so far – after all, the winner clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Given that, you would expect the referees to be at their absolute best during the game. But on at least one play during the game, that certainly wasn’t the case.
During a Hawks offensive possession in the fourth quarter of Tuesday evening’s crucial game, a referee made a perplexing and quite distracting blunder after Trae Young found teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic open in the corner. While there was no Miami Heat player in the area – Bogdanovic was wide open – a referee suddenly sprinted across the court right in front of him as he attempted his jump shot.
It’s not clear whether or not the referee impacted the shot, but Bogdanovic ultimately missed the three-point attempt.
Seriously bro what is this?!?! pic.twitter.com/HVZdWD0Ykq
— Grant Shirley (@Grant_Shirley4) April 12, 2023
It may just be one play in a lengthy basketball game, but fans and players undeniably hoped for better from the referees in the game. And people had plenty of reactions on social media.
He’s picking up the open man 😂 https://t.co/7E45yKKQjp
— KnickTakeJake (@KnickTake) April 12, 2023
Thought I was the only person who caught this. These officials have to be better than this https://t.co/xOTUGf0kjd
— OWLOW_ 🐂 (@owlow_) April 12, 2023
@OfficialNBARefs please talk to your refs. Your dude just contested/ distracted a wide open shooter by running in front of him. #NBA https://t.co/Gh91sb5AiN
— Prolific TW (@Mr_T_c_W) April 12, 2023
Ref had Bogi on the under https://t.co/R6yEOY9rPn
— Meechiavelli (@meech_io) April 12, 2023
I’ve never seen a ref go through an active play like this https://t.co/cZ5PfqFscr
— DJ 40/40 (@DJFortyForty) April 12, 2023
I was mad confused when I saw this during the game lmao he literally stunted at him 😭😭 https://t.co/zaFdDkxCRa
— x- Shaun On Playback (@iHateShaun) April 12, 2023
As it turns out, the referees simply got confused about their positioning on the court.
After Hawks gained possession of Jump Ball at other end, the crew got their wires crossed on positioning, as ball goes to other half of court. It RARELY happens w/ NBA Refs, but they are humans too.
• Old T correctly transitioned to be New L
• Old L was correctly transitioning… https://t.co/1d2yGSBVun pic.twitter.com/xzBqdCr208— Chip Clark (@OfficialChipC) April 12, 2023
Mistakes happen, but it was certainly odd to see such a clear blunder occur at the highest level in such a massive game.
