With 52 seconds left in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Aaron Nesmith was whistled for a kicked ball violation with the Knicks and Pacers knotted at 115-115, and the Knicks scored on the ensuing possession to take a 118-115 lead they wouldn’t relinquish, ultimately winning the game 121-117.
The problem? Nesmith didn’t appear to actually kick the ball, as was fairly apparent on even a cursory replay review:
Everyone’s gonna focus on that illegal screen in Knicks-Pacers, but this kickball call was arguably worse and not talked about enough on the broadcast.pic.twitter.com/pwA84tIXp0
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 7, 2024
The call was not challengable or reviewable, however, and so there was nothing anyone could do to fix it. But after the game, referee crew chief Zach Zarba immediately admitted in the media Pool Report that he and his crew had blown it:
QUESTION: Upon review, was the kicked ball call against Aaron Nesmith deemed to be correct?
ZARBA: On the floor we felt that would be a kicked ball violation. Post game review did show that it hit the defender’s hand, which would be legal.
QUESTION: Could the Pacers have been allowed to challenge the kick ball call?
ZARBA: A kicked ball violation is not reviewable and not subject to the coach’s challenge. The three things that teams can challenge are fouls, goaltends and out of bounds.
As you would expect, the Pacers were less than thrilled:
myles turner: “the kick ball on aaron nesmith, that was not a kick ball. you can clearly see it on the replay.” pic.twitter.com/Ea7qgZOEAE
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) May 7, 2024
That is… a rough break for Indy and their fans, especially considering that Myles Turner was also (controversially) whistled for an illegal screen with 12.1 seconds remaining and the Pacers having the chance to take the lead.
Head coach Rick Carlisle challenged that ruling, but it was not overturned, something he clearly wasn’t happy about after the game, although both he and Turner didn’t completely blame the referees for the outcome:
Rick Carlisle: “I don’t want to talk about the officiating. We’re not expecting to get calls in here.”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 7, 2024
Rick Carlisle on the Myles Turner illegal screen call: “I don’t want to talk about the officiating. We’re not expecting to get calls in here. It would be nice if they laid off that one, but they didn’t. That’s just the way it goes. We challenged it. They reviewed it. They’ve got… pic.twitter.com/tx9dyi9vr3
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 7, 2024
Myles Turner: “We reviewed it; they still called it an illegal screen. But it’s the playoffs, man. I feel like DiVincenzo did a good job of selling it. For the most part you can’t leave the game to be decided by the refs. So we have to take accountability as well.” pic.twitter.com/0GXYW3dZlQ
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) May 7, 2024
Still, that degree of personal accountability isn’t going to make Pacers fans sleep much better tonight, and may lead to more sleepless evenings if they ultimately end up losing a tight series.
