On Thursday night, the Boston Celtics led the Chicago Bulls by one point heading into the final possession of the game.
Bulls wingman Jimmy Butler took a potential game-winning shot and ultimately drew a foul on Marcus Smart in what appears to be an absolutely abysmal call.
HORRIBLE CALL BY THE REFS, NO FOUL 💯🏀👍 @smart_MS3 @Isaiah_Thomas @celtics @JimmyButler @chicagobulls #RESPECT @BleacherReport @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/NZvGc9ts9L
— #DallasCowboys 13-3 (@Realboy_Nithin) February 17, 2017
Butler hit both free throws to cement a 104-103 Bulls win.
Check out additional angles of the play in the video below.
Naturally, Smart and the Celtics were upset after the game.
“When Jimmy shot the ball I heard him scream, ‘No Foul?’ As soon as he said that the whistle blew and I looked and I saw the referee raise his hand for the foul. I couldn’t believe it,” Smart told reporters.
“It was a big letdown, especially for me. I’m one of the best defenders in this league. I played great defense there, I know I did. I moved my feet, I did everything right, my hands were up. I got punished for playing good defense, I guess.”
The Celtics can take solace in the fact that they are 8-2 in their last 10 games, and head into the All-Star break as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Still, anytime you lose a game in this manner, it’s beyond frustrating.