As the NBA officially announced a refereeing mistake during Los Angeles Lakers’ recent loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the decision has ignited debate across the league and left Lakers fans and players demanding answers.

With just over 30 seconds remaining and the Lakers trailing by a single point, Luka Dončić attempted to push the ball past half-court. As he advanced, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels stepped into Dončić’s path, initiating illegal foot contact that caused the Lakers star to lose his balance and fall to the floor.

Despite the clear contact, no foul was called on the play. The Lakers managed to call a timeout to retain possession, but on the ensuing inbounds, they turned the ball over—a sequence that ultimately led to Minnesota sealing the win and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.

NBA’s Admission: “A Foul Should Have Been Called”

The league’s Last Two Minute Report, released the day after the game, confirmed what many Lakers supporters and head coach JJ Redick argued in real time: the referees missed a pivotal foul. 

The report stated, “McDaniels steps forward into Dončić's path, initiating illegal foot contact that causes him to lose his balance,” and concluded that a foul should have been assessed on the play.

After the loss, Redick did not mince words. “Luka got tripped. That was a blatant trip. He doesn’t just fall on his own. We should have been at the free-throw line. He got fouled,” he said. Dončić himself echoed his coach’s sentiments, telling reporters, “I was tripped, no doubt.”

Impact and the Aftermath

The NBA’s admission marks the second time in as many days that officials have acknowledged a missed call in a pivotal playoff moment. Just a day earlier, crew chief David Guthrie conceded a missed foul in the final seconds of the Pistons-Knicks game, fueling concerns about late-game officiating.

If the foul on Dončić had been called, the Lakers’ star would have gone to the free-throw line with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final moments. Instead, the missed call shifted the momentum decisively in Minnesota’s favor, leaving Los Angeles with a daunting 3-1 series deficit as they head into a must-win Game 5.