In early February, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers and ended up winning 119-108 in a bizarre and rare outcome.
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On Thursday, NBA Vice President of Referee Operations Joe Borgia, was on NBA TV to discuss the unusual situation that unfolded in Cleveland:
“We have to have five players on the court at all times, if there are no available substitutes to come in the game, the player who fouls out has to remain in the game.”
During the game, the visiting Lakers were currently listed with only eight active players on the roster. However, they lost Nick Young to a knee injury, Jordan Farmar suffered leg cramps, and both Chris Kaman and Robert Sacre fouled out.
Although Steve Nash was technically an eligible player, he was not on the bench the entire night which caused confusion:
“That turned this play upside down, Steve Nash was on the active list. He was not on the bench all night in uniform. >We stayed status quo, even though Nash did come out” in uniform, it’s very, very unusual. I’ve never seen it before.”
While Nash was on the active list, head coach Mike D’Antoni informed the referees that he could not play due to injury. Fortunately for the Lakers, Sacre was able to stay in the game without committing a foul. If he had committed another foul, it would have resulted in a technical foul.
(H/T Eric Pincus of Los Angeles Times)
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