Toronto Raptors File Protest Over Ending of Kings Game

The Toronto Raptors have officially filed a protest with the NBA over the controversial ending of Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

We all expected the Toronto Raptors to appeal the ending of Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings and now they official have, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange.

The NBA now has five business days to review the Raptors’ appeal and respond. I’d guess with Thanksgiving being a holiday in the United States, Thursday will not count as a business day, which means the NBA won’t have to give a response until next Wednesday or Thursday.

Filing the protest cost the Raptors $10,000, but they will get the money back if they win the appeal. Money certainly isn’t an issue for the Raptors (I’m sure MLSE just picked that out of one the couches in the office on 50 Bay Street), but the cost was worth mentioning.

Just in case you missed the wild finish to Sunday’s game, here’s a look at what happened.

And here’s the NBA’s official statement on the matter:

"NEW YORK, November 21, 2016 – The National Basketball Association released the following statement today from Byron Spruell, President, League Operations, regarding the clock malfunction at the end of the Sacramento Kings’ 102-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors last night at Golden 1 Center:“After review at the league office, we have concluded that the end of the game was officiated correctly by NBA rules.  We reviewed all aspects of the final 27.4 seconds and below is a summary of our evaluation.“Toronto inbounded the ball with 2.4 seconds remaining in the game, and the clock did not start when the pass was deflected by Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins.  Per the NBA’s precision timing system, the clock can be started by either the referees or the clock operator.  The referees noticed the clock malfunction immediately which triggered a replay review under rule 13.1.a.5, which states that a review must occur if ‘a play concludes (i) with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of any period or (ii) at a point when the game officials believe that actual time may have expired in any period; and the officials are reasonably certain that the game clock malfunctioned during the play.’“Per rule 13.2.e.1, the Replay Center was then tasked with determining ‘the proper time (if any) on the game clock following the clock malfunction by determining how much time on the game clock actually expired.’  To determine how much time actually expired, Replay Center referee Zach Zarba used a digital timer on the Replay Center screen. The determination was that 2.5 seconds expired, thus negating the basket.“We also reviewed the question surrounding the time left on the clock for Sacramento’s final possession.   That possession started with 26.4 seconds remaining on the game clock since that is when Cousins secured possession of the rebound after a missed free throw.  The subsequent shot clock violation on the Kings’ possession therefore left 2.4 seconds remaining in the game.”"

There has only been one successful appeal over the last 30 years, which was when the Miami Heat won a ruling that saw Shaquille O’Neal incorrectly foul out from a game against the Atlanta Hawks in January 2008.

However, no team has ever won an appeal over a timing issue. Plus, the NBA has already upheld the decision made in Sunday’s game, as mentioned above in their statement, so it will be tough for this call to get overturned.

Next: Raptors Podcast: What we Learned From the Cavs, Warriors Games

Best-case scenario, the NBA counts Terrence Ross‘ shot and the Raptors and Kings play out overtime at a future date. Considering everything that’s transpired thus far, I’d say that’s an optimistic outlook, but a possibility nonetheless.

Do you think the Raptors will win their protest? Or will the NBA deny their appeal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.