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Ref Explains Why Ja Morant Received Odd Technical Foul for Full-Court Shot After Buzzer

This call was debatable and eventually consequential.

Blake Silverman

Memphis Grizzlies guard Morant reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at FedExForum.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Morant reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at FedExForum. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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When Ja Morant fired a one-armed, full-court heave at the hoop just after the third-quarter buzzer sounded, the referees had none of it. He was quickly assessed a technical foul, which gave the New York Knicks a free throw that OG Anunoby sank to start the fourth quarter.

That sole technical foul shot turned out to be consequential, as the Knicks defeated the Grizzlies by one point, 114-113.

After the game, referee crew chief Bill Kennedy was asked about the call in a pool report conducted by Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian.

"Morant was assessed a technical foul for throwing the ball the length of the floor," Kennedy said.

When asked about the NBA's rule or policy against shooting the ball after the buzzer sounds, Kennedy acknowledged there's no rule against the action "if it's deemed to be a legitimate shot attempt." Hill then asked about Morant's attempt specifically, confirming the fact that the official deemed the attempt illegitimate.

"At the time on the floor, yes," Kennedy said, seemingly acknowledging that the technical foul call was questionable at best.

After an and-one from Morant to put Memphis up two points, Anunoby hit a clutch three-pointer with four seconds left which proved to be the game-winner for the Knicks. Morant just missed a layup for the win at the final buzzer.

Morant scored 25 points, along with seven assists and four rebounds in the tough loss. On a night where questionable technical fouls were handed out across the NBA, including one to Detroit Pistons enforcer Isaiah Stewart for running down the court, the iffy call on Morant became significant.

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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.

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