The first Monday in April is one of the rare non All-Star-related dark nights for the NBA, as the league allows the basketball spotlight to shine solely on the NCAA Championship Game. However, thanks to some inclement weather back in January, the Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets squared off in a makeup game, after a previous meeting (in January) was postponed due to inclement weather.
The game held little significance for the visiting Blazers (they are already guaranteed a Top 4 seed in the West), but the same can’t be said for the Nets, who, even at 36-41, are locked in a heated battle for the “honor” of being the 7th or 8th seed in the terrible Eastern Conference. The Nets secured a much-needed victory, placing them in the 7th seed (for now). So that’s nice, I guess.
Perhaps in an homage to college officiating, referee Bennie Adams committed an atrocious blunder midway through the fourth quarter. Adams ruled this shot a three-pointer for Damian Lillard, but the only arc Lillard was standing behind was the one at the top of the key. According to the broadcast, the referees didn’t even bother to review it, which means pretty much everyone was checked out of this one.
[YouTube]
