NBA

Why the Grizzlies-Lakers game lasted one minute longer than it should have

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed in a statement that an error had occurred in the time keeping between Memphis and Los Angeles.

GG Jackson (Memphis Grizzlies) defiende a LeBron James, alero de Los Angeles Lakers.
JUSTIN FORD | AFP
Calum Roche
Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.
Update:

The Friday match between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers lasted one minute and six seconds longer than expected due to a clock management error.

Clock error extended Grizzlies-Lakers game

“We have confirmed that the game clock was set incorrectly in the third quarter,” acknowledged Tim Frank, NBA spokesperson, in a statement collected by American media outlets on Saturday. “After the possession ended, the clock was set to 2.20 when it should have been at 1.14. This error went unnoticed in real time by the teams, referees, clock operator, and the table,” he added.

On social media, a video of the match can be seen where Memphis attacks and, in the final seconds, launches two consecutive shots that do not touch the rim, indicating their possession should have ended there.

Did the time error affect the Grizzlies-Lakers result?

There is an initial error by the table as they grant a new possession as if the second shot had hit the basket. The referee notices this mistake and stops play.

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However, in the following possession, the Lakers do not start the play with 1.14 remaining but with 2.20 due to a new error in the clock, resulting in the third quarter lasting 13.06 instead of the regulation 12.00.

As confirmed by ESPN’s review, in those extra 66 seconds, both the Grizzlies and Lakers scored two points each, so the error did not impact the final result (a victory for the Lakers, 120-123).

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