76ers' Nick Nurse Rips Officials After Game 2 Loss to Knicks

Karl Rasmussen | Apr 23, 2024

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts to a call / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia 76ers are down 2–0 in their first round series against the New York Knicks, and they're not happy with how the games have been officiated thus far.

After Monday's loss, coach Nick Nurse was irate with officials after Philadelphia was not given a timeout during the moments before a turnover led to Donte DiVincenzo's go-ahead three-pointer, despite Nurse claiming to have made multiple attempts to call one.

"I call timeout, referee looked right at me. Ignored me. (The ball) went into Tyrese [Maxey], I called timeout again, then the melee started, and yeah," said Nurse. "Needed a timeout there to advance it, would've been good, but couldn't get it."

76ers coach Nick Nurse says the referees ignored him calling a timeout before the Knicks created a turnover and Donte DiVincenzo made a go-ahead three in the final seconds: pic.twitter.com/tDVfKRyAO2

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 23, 2024

Nurse alleges to have been ignored by officials on multiple attempts to call timeout during the hectic play down the stretch of the fourth quarter. During the play, an inbounds pass to Maxey was tipped into the air, causing the point guard to dive onto the ground in pursuit of it. Nurse appears to gesture for a timeout at the same moment Josh Hart begins to rip the ball free from Maxey's possession.

DIVINCENZO AND BRUNSON DRILL BACK-TO-BACK 3'S AND THE KNICKS TAKE THE LEAD! 🔥

13.1 REMAINING IN GAME 2 ON TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/x0PwLjhsbw

— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024

Nurse wasn't pleased not to have been awarded the timeout, adamant that he also gestured for one before the inbounds pass.

Additionally, the 76ers are planning to file a grievance with the NBA over the officiating from both Game 1 and Game 2, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

The series will return to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, with the 76ers in dire need of a spark in order to turn things around after a crushing loss on Monday night.