Knicks vs. Pacers Ref Zach Zarba Admits Mistake on Kicked Ball; Play Not Reviewable

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVMay 7, 2024

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

It won’t make the Indiana Pacers feel better about their 121-117 loss to the New York Knicks in Monday’s Game 1 of their second-round playoff series, but they at least have a valid excuse.

Referee Zach Zarba admitted that the officiating crew made a critical mistake in the final minute when the game was tied at 115. Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith was whistled for a kicked ball violation that negated a steal for his team and allowed the Knicks to maintain possession before Donte DiVincenzo hit a go-ahead three-pointer.

It turns out, Indiana should have had the ball:

Ian Begley @IanBegleyReferee Zach Zarba to @FredKatz on kicked ball called on IND’s Aaron Nesmith: pic.twitter.com/mtZMGtDQKe

Unfortunately for the visitors, a kicked ball violation is not reviewable.

“A kicked ball is not reviewable and not subject to a coach’s challenge,” Zarba said. “The three things that teams can challenge are fouls, goaltends and out of bounds.”

While it was a game- and potentially series-altering mistake by the officials, Indiana still had an opportunity to win. It trimmed the deficit to one with a Pascal Siakam basket and then forced a turnover.

However, Myles Turner was called for an offensive foul while setting a screen with 12 seconds remaining. The next time the Pacers got the ball, they were facing a four-point deficit thanks to three free throws from Jalen Brunson.

“I don’t want to talk about the officiating,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after the loss. “We’re not expecting to get calls in here. It’d be nice if they laid off that one, but they didn’t. So, that’s just the way it goes.”

NBA TV @NBATV”We’re not expecting to get calls in here. It would be nice if they laid off that one but they didn’t. That’s just the way it goes.”

Pacers HC Rick Carlisle on Myles Turner’s moving screen in the 4th quarter of Game 1 pic.twitter.com/oiXwHT7cxs

At least Indiana was allowed to challenge the Turner foul, although the effort was deemed unsuccessful.

The Pacers could look at this with a glass-half-full approach and recognize they were a questionable call or two away from stealing a game on the road even when Brunson went off for 43 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Perhaps Brunson will be slightly less effective in future games. Or perhaps the officiating won’t be as big of a storyline.

Indiana didn’t look outmatched and can still make this a competitive series, but it will surely be thinking about some of the calls until it can take the floor again in Wednesday’s Game 2.