The Grizzlies were down Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons, James Ennis, Zach Randolph, Brandan Wright and Vince Carter against the Lakers on Saturday.
But Memphis got a little outside help in its 103-100 win – from the late-game officiating.
The Grizzlies got away with two loose-ball fouls in the final minute, according to the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report.
(The report also notes a third incorrect call: Jordan Clarkson getting away with a travel with 1:33 left. But the Lakers didn’t score on that possession, anyway).
With 30.7 seconds left, Tony Allen got away with committing a loose-ball foul on Brandon Ingram:
A correct call would’ve put Memphis into the penalty and sent Ingram – who has made 77% of his free throws – to the line for two attempts. Instead, though they got the ball after the rebound scrum, the Lakers came up empty on their possession.
Then, Marc Gasol also got away with committing a loose-ball foul on Luol Deng with 3.5 seconds left:
Again, a correct call would’ve given the Lakers two free throws. Deng is shooting 70% this season and 77% for his career from the line.
Instead, Gasol grabbed the game-clinching rebound.
The game obviously would have played out differently if these calls were made correctly. But, as it stands, the Lakers missed out on four free throws from solid shooters in the final minute of a three-point loss.