\n<\/p>\n
Match referees admitted making a “gut-wrenching” error after being accused of cheating by the Los Angeles Lakers in their defeat by the Boston Celtics.<\/span><\/p>\n Lakers star LeBron James was challenged by Jayson Tatum as he missed what could have been a game-winning shot.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But referees did not call a foul and the game went to overtime, with the Celtics eventually winning 125-121.<\/span><\/p>\n “There was contact, we missed the play,” admitted the game’s officiating crew chief Eric Lewis.<\/span><\/p>\n The National Basketball Referees Association wrote on Twitter: “Like everyone else, referees make mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n “We made one at the end of last night’s game and that is gut-wrenching for us.<\/span><\/p>\n “This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be.”<\/span><\/p>\n The non-call had James hopping up and down in frustration, while team-mate Patrick Beverley ran on court with a camera seeking to show an official photographic evidence of the foul.<\/span><\/p>\n Beverley received a technical foul for his protests and the Celtics converted that free throw at the start of overtime.<\/span><\/p>\n Lakers player Anthony Davis said after the game that his side were “cheated” and suggested referees should be fined for missed calls.<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s unacceptable and I guarantee nothing is going to happen to the refs,” said Davis, who suggested that Tatum had committed a “blatant foul” on James. <\/span><\/p>\n “We got cheated. To miss a call that blatant, the ref is sitting right there on the baseline, it’s tough. It’s not fair. I guarantee if the refs started getting fined for missed calls, it would be a lot better. But nothing’s going to be done.”<\/span><\/p>\n James added: “We don’t have room for error.<\/span><\/p>\n “This is one of the best games we’ve played all year, and for this to fall on somebody else’s judgment or non-judgment is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n