Kristian Winfield: NBA referee James Williams says Donte DiVincenzo should have been whistled for a foul on Ausar Thompson on the game’s final possession. QUESTION: Why was a foul not called when Donte DiVincenzo made contact with Ausar Thompson near halfcourt with approximately eight seconds to go in the game? WILLIAMS: Upon postgame review, we determined that Thompson gets to the ball first, and then was deprived of the opportunity to gain possession of the ball. Therefore, a loose ball foul should have been whistled on New York’s Donte DiVincenzo. QUESTION: So, if he hadn’t had possession of the ball, could a collision happen there? Would that have been a no foul then? If you had ruled that Thompson didn’t have control of the ball, would that have been a no foul? WILLIAMS: If the ball is loose, players on both teams have equal opportunity to it. It becomes a matter of who gets there first. -via Twitter @Krisplashed / February 27, 2024
