NBA denies Kings' protest of loss to Grizzlies
The NBA announced in a statement on Friday that it is upholding the Memphis Grizzlies' 111-110 win over the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 13.
The Kings had filed a protest of the game's result on the grounds that Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee's game-winning layup was made after time expired. General manager Pete D'Alessandro had reportedly said that he "feels strongly" about the protest.
Sacramento blew a 26-point lead in the loss.
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From the statement:
The basis for the Kings’ protest was that Courtney Lee’s game-winning shot should have been disqualified as having been made after time expired. Under league procedures, each team has an opportunity to make submissions in support of its position, and the protesting team is required to establish a misapplication of the official playing rules that had a clear impact on the game’s outcome.
The Commissioner determined that the game officials’ call that Lee’s shot was timely was within their judgment and not a misapplication of the playing rules. Sacramento’s protest therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of overturning the game’s result.
The Kings are 9-6 and in ninth place in the Western Conference, while the Grizzlies are tied with the Toronto Raptors for the NBA's best record at 13-2.
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