NBA
Who are the referees for the 2024 NBA Finals game 5?
The Boston Celtics are one win away from being crowned NBA champions. They head into tonight’s Game 4 at TD Garden leading 3-1. The officiating crew has now been confirmed.
The Boston Celtics missed their first chance to be crowned NBA champions after suffering a harrowing 84-122 defeat at American Airlines Center on Friday. On the plus side, Joe Mazzulla’s team have another chance this evening - and could clinch the title in front of their own fans. That would be the ideal outcome for the Cs, who could face another road trip if Dallas pull another game back in the series - another reason to finish the job off asap.
A Boston win would also set a new NBA record - the Celtics would seal their 18th title, overtaking the Lakers as the most successful franchise in league history.
Zach Zarba’s officiating crew for Game 5 in Boston
Crew Chief Zach Zarba will lead an officiating team that comprises Referee John Goble, Umpire Bill Kennedy and Courtney Kirkland (Alternate) with James Capers on hand to check any plays on the monitors at the Replay Center.
During two decades of experience in the league, 49-year-old New York City native Zarba has officiated in a total of 1,246 regular-season games and 146 playoff games as an NBA staff official. He has called 12 NBA Finals games, debuting in Game 3 of the 2013 series between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. The Celtics are 9-1 in their last 10 games with Zarba, including the Game 3 win over Cleveland and Game 4 win over Indiana; the Mavericks are 5-5.
in 16 seasons as an NBA staff official, referee John Goble has overseen 993 regular-season games plus extensive experience in the postseason with 125 playoff games under his belt, including eight NBA Finals games.
Umpire Bill Kennedy has spent 26 seasons in NBA and has been designated for 1,420 regular-season games, 139 playoff games and six NBA Finals games. The Phoenix native made his Finals debut in 2010, in Game 3 of the series between the Celtics and the Lakers (Los Angeles won 91-84).
Courtney Kirkland is another official with a wealth of experience in the league. The 49-year-old has officiated 1,371 regular-season games in 23 seasons and worked 59 playoff games. He is one of five officials in history to have delegated for consecutive NBA All-Star Games.
Manning the Replay Center will be another seasoned veteran of the game - James Capers has amassed 28 years working in the NBA. With 1,556 regular-season games to his name, James has also worked 178 playoff games, including 14 NBA Finals games. His first NBA Finals assignment was Game 3 of the 2012 series between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder.