In the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, there has been a whole lot of controversy. The Lakers were denied a clear game-winner if the foul were to be given. However, it didn’t go in their favor, and ended up losing the game in OT. The entire play revolved around LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and NBA official Eric Lewis.
LeBron James could be seen disappointed after he got fouled by Celtics’ Tatum. In the last minutes of the game, Celtics equalized after Jaylen Brown hit the game-tying free throws. It was after that, official Eric Lewis failed to give a foul on LeBron. It would’ve given LeBron and the Lakers, an opportunity to win, rather than going into OT.
LeBron was furious after not getting the foul and free throw opportunity from the line to take the win. It is, however, infuriated the fans as well after yesterday night’s officiating debacle. Fans have started questioning the integrity of the referees officiating the game. Some showing statistics of the game Boston Celtics have won, when Eric Lewis is the referee. Some have even shown their displeasure with his refereeing in the Laker-Celtics game.
I need NBA official Eric Lewis investigatived EXPEDITIOUSLY!!! The Celtics are 36-2 in games he’s reffed since 2020 pic.twitter.com/oYvmPnsMZZ
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) January 29, 2023
Well the ref at half court called the Jaylen brown head tap that led to the game thing Free throw seconds before lol
— SBR (@SBR_bets) January 29, 2023
Really lousy officiating in that game and Lakers have had several non calls late in games that would have likely ended up in Wins. I'm no conspiracy theorists but this is a thing. Why does NBA not want Lakers to Win?
— Billy Democracy (@DemocracyBilly4) January 29, 2023
these refs should be reevaluated and retrained then show cause why the @NBA should keep them @OfficialNBARefs @NBAOfficial
— Matikas️ (@red_mati) January 29, 2023
NBA referee, Eric Lewis later confirmed that it was a mistake on his part during the Pool Report. He also addressed the technical foul given to Patrick Beverley, as his actions were “inappropriate”, said Lewis. “There was contact. At the time, during the game, we did not see a foul. The crew missed the play.” said Lewis on the no-call foul on LeBron.
Adam Silver’s relationship with Eric Lewis questioned by fans
After the controversial OT win for the Boston Celtics. The NBA fans are claiming that the NBARefStats page is taken down. It is supposed to be a page on Twitter, which shows how many fouls a referee has given, the fans are claiming that it is been taken down by the NBA. In this case fans have started posting stats that supposedly state that Eric Lewis is favoring the Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics are 27-2 in games officiated by Eric Lewis dating back to 2020, via @NBARefStats.
Eric Lewis's daughter is also a pediatrician in Boston.
No wonder Lakers got cheated. pic.twitter.com/BYZmAfy70D
— Pinnacle Fortune EXIM Intl. (@pinfo_exim_intl) January 29, 2023
It has also raised questions about the relationship between NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Eric Lewis. It is nothing but baseless facts, or could it be something much more controversial than it looks? However, it is a topic for later, and nothing can be changed now. But, it does ask a question, why is there no stats for the referee, in order to impart fair ruling during the game.