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NBA admits officiating mistake in Lakers-NuggetsNEW YORK (AP) The NBA acknowledged Thursday there was an officiating mistake in the final minute of the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-111 victory over the host Denver Nuggets. With the Nuggets leading Wednesday night's game 111-109, a shot by Denver's Andre Miller appeared to brush the rim and barely beat the shot clock. Teammate Carmelo Anthony got the rebound, but the whistle blew for a shot-clock violation. The officials huddled and ruled it was an inadvertent whistle, resulting in a jump ball. The Lakers won the tip, leading to Kareem Rush's winning 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left. NBA senior vice president Stu Jackson said there shouldn't have been a whistle on the play. ``That call was incorrect because the ball, in fact, hit the rim,'' Jackson said. ``This was an unfortunate call at a highly critical point in the game, and we very much regret the error.'' The National Basketball Referees Association said the league suspended referee Michael Henderson for three games and summoned him to New York for a meeting with league officials. The group said the referee had followed NBA guidelines in making his call, but made a mistake. ``Yet rather than a traditional fine, the NBA is out-of-bounds in its actions,'' said Lamell McMorris of the NBRA. Speaking before the Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, coach Phil Jackson maintained that Miller's shot didn't hit the rim and Anthony fouled Kobe Bryant as he got the rebound. ``You just see the ball disappear below the rim,'' Jackson said. ``I've never heard of a decision like that rendered by the league office.'' A league spokesman could not immediately be reached to comment on the NBRA's statement. Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Nuggets claim Doleac on waiversDENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets were awarded center Michael Doleac on a waiver claim Friday, scrapping the New York Knicks' plans to re-sign him. Doleac was to join the Nuggets in Orlando for their game Saturday night. To make room for him on the active roster, center Francisco Elson was placed on the injured list. Doleac was traded last Sunday from New York to Atlanta, and the Hawks waived him Wednesday. Knicks president Isiah Thomas was ecstatic Thursday when the Utah Jazz used up all their salary cap space in a trade, making them ineligible to claim Doleac. But the Nuggets also had cap room _ along with a need for an outside shooting big man who can draw opposing centers away from the basket _ and claimed his $1.6 million contract. Doleac can opt out and become a free agent this summer. ``He knew our offense, he was starting to learn the screen-and-roll-and-pop real well with Stephon (Marbury),'' Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens said. ``He's a big guy who can make shots from the elbow.'' Doleac averaged 5.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 46 games for the Knicks. Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Lenard dethrones Stojakovic in 3-point contestLOS ANGELES (AP) Denver's Voshon Lenard denied Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic from a third consecutive victory in the NBA All-Star 3-point shooting contest Saturday night. Lenard edged Stojakovic 18-16 in the final round. The Denver Nuggets guard hit all five red, white and blue money balls (worth two points) in the one-minute final. Stojakovic needed to hit the last money ball to force a tie, but it bounced off the rim as the clock expired. ``I knew it was going to be tough. He's a two-time champion,'' Lenard said. ``I just tried to hang in there, but to win it over Peja, it's a privilege.'' Stojakovic could have tied Larry Bird (1986-88) and Craig Hodges (1990-92) as a three-time winner. Last year, Stojakovic won his second title over Wesley Person of Memphis in overtime after a clock malfunction during the final round. Lenard has been one of the league's top long-range shooters over his nine-year pro career, but it was his first appearance in the 3-point contest. Philadelphia forward Kyle Korver also made the three-man finals. He scored 15 points after hitting all five shots from the left corner. He missed all five attempts at another of the five shooting stations. Stojakovic led after the first round with 21 points, including hitting 4-of-5 from the top of the key. He hit the final money ball, kept his arms extended, then made the crowd laugh by cocking his head to the left as if to say, ``Take that!'' Korver was second with 19 points, making all five from the left corner and 5-of-6 from the right corner. Lenard was third with 18 points. Rashard Lewis of Seattle, Houston's Cuttino Mobley and Detroit's Chauncey Billups didn't advance out of the first round. Lewis had 16 points; Mobley had 13 points; and Billups managed just 12 points after numerous balls bounced off the rim. Lenard earned $25,000. Stojakovic received $15,000. Players had a minute to shoot as many balls as they could from five spots around the 3-point line. The four orange balls at each station were worth one point. Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Nuggets Feb 2004 Archive
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