NBA referee James Williams Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

NBA referee continues wild week

By Sean Keane | Last updated 2/28/24

NBA referee James Williams made another mistake Tuesday night. He’s lucky it wasn’t as costly as his mistake Monday.

With Dallas trailing by one point with just under 24 seconds to go, the Mavericks trapped Cleveland’s Darius Garland. Garland bumped into Green and moved his feet, seemingly a travel or a loose ball foul and Williams called…nothing.

Luckily, Cleveland turned the ball over on the subsequent inbounds play, making the no-call moot. The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report supported the officials, but some Dallas fans were still furious.

In the last 3 minutes and 40 seconds of Mavs Cavs:

-Incorrect inbound violation on Mavs
-incorrect offensive foul call on Kyrie
-Josh Green Tackled on a three with 1:25 to go with no call
-Jarrett Allen offensive foul not called (Cavs make a three off the illegal screen)
-Cavs…
— Jo (@MavsStan41) February 28, 2024

Monday, Williams admitted he missed a foul by New York’s Donte DiVincenzo in the final seconds of the Knicks’ win over the Detroit Pistons.

Donte DiVincenzo spears the knees of Ausar Thompson, isn’t called for a foul, the Knicks then score and win.

WHAT! pic.twitter.com/DF7h73GzT2
— Aaron Johnson (@AJohnsonNBA) February 27, 2024

Pistons coach Monty Williams was furious after the game, storming out of his news conference after denouncing the officiating.

Monty Williams just went OFF on the referees/NBA for wanting “a fair game” after a loose ball where Donte DiVincenzo dove into Ausar Thompson’s legs which led to a Knicks game-winning layup was not called a foul:

“Where is the New York media now? The absolute worst call of the… pic.twitter.com/KpKZPxUiSB
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) February 27, 2024

Before the All-Star break, Williams also drew the ire of Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who he kicked out of the Clippers’ comeback win over the Warriors. Although Lue later apologized, after the game he said on a viral video that he wanted to “kiss [Williams] in the mouth” for motivating the team.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue was ejected after picking up his 2nd technical foul of the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/YK5tToy0bj
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 15, 2024

Overall, it’s been a stressful month for Williams. Perhaps he can relax by taking the Utah Jazz mascot’s mini-ATV out for a ride.

NBA referee James Williams rode Utah’s mascot’s ATV around during a blowout. Jazz officials were reportedly upset with Williams (March 2023). pic.twitter.com/z4Qma8xbyv
— Kris Pursiainen (@krispursiainen) February 1, 2024

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