The NBA Xmas Games are on in full swing and we’re done with 3 out of the 5. The Sixers made a 4th quarter comeback to beat the Knicks. The Mavericks handed the Lakers a loss on Dirk Nowitzki’s statue unveiling. The Celtics handed the Bucks a whooping. Just like a lot of us, Kevin Durant was at home and enjoying the games as well.
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With the Nets not playing on Christmas Day, Durant is just like the rest of us, a fan who’s enjoying the festivities put up by the teams and the NBA. The Warriors host the Grizzlies for the 4th Xmas Game. With Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins out, a lot of people expected Ja Morant and co to bulldoze their way through.
However, Jordan Poole and the others had a different plan.
Kevin Durant left surprised by the referee’s calls
This morning, the NBA Referees Twitter page announced the referees officiating the Xmas games tonight. When they announced the ones for the Dubs-Grizzlies game, fans knew tonight was going to be bad.
TONIGHT
⏰ 8:00 PM ET
🏀 @memgrizz at @warriors
🏀 #8 Davis, #71 Mott, #9 Sago
📺 @espnnba#NBA #NBAReferees #MEMvsGSW #GrindCity #DubNation pic.twitter.com/M5W2hg1TNs— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) December 25, 2022
Mark Davis has not been good for the Warriors, and he’s lived up to his reputation so far.
During the third quarter, the Warriors tried fouling Steven Adams, and it was a clear plain foul. Instead, the referees called it a ‘Take Foul’ and granted the Grizzlies a free throw and an extra possession.
Warriors try to hack Steven Adams but the officials rule it a take foul. Desmond Bane gets a free throw and Memphis keeps possession. Free point. Steve Kerr so upset at the call he gets a technical. Another free point.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 26, 2022
This did not sit well with a lot of people, including Kevin Durant.
The take foul still confuses me
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) December 26, 2022
The NBA implemented the ‘Take Foul’ rule this season. According to NBA.com, this is how they define a take foul.
The take foul — in which the defender does not make a play on the ball — is what the league classifies as one that occurs either “during a transition scoring opportunity or immediately following a change of possession and before the offensive team had the opportunity to advance the ball.”
The new penalty for such a foul is one free throw, which may be attempted by any player on the offended team in the game at the time the foul was committed, along with continued possession by the offended team.
NBA Twitter reacts to the poor officiating tonight
The game tonight has been insane. The Warriors have been issued five technical fouls, with over 9 minutes remaining in the 4th. NBA Twitter was sure outraged about the same.
These refs are a joke
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) December 26, 2022
One of the worst Techs of the season
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) December 26, 2022
The referees just ejected Jordan Poole from the game…
— Guru (@DrGuru_) December 26, 2022
The referees called a transition take-foul on the Warriors after a made basket.
Then they called a lane violation on Klay when Steven Adams pumped fake a free throw.
What is going on.
— Guru (@DrGuru_) December 26, 2022
It has been a poorly officiated game. From the looks of it, if the Dubs lose tonight, it’s more on the referees than on themselves.