By asking for a “challenge” on a jump ball after a ball outing that was unclear for the referees, Mark Daigneault highlighted a “gray area” of the regulation from which he visibly hoped to benefit.
Had he won the “challenge”, even if the Pelicans had recovered the ball? The interpretation of the rule was not clear to the Thunder coach, who had seen the referees judge the situation completely differently during the regular season. In the process, the NBA therefore clarified the interpretation of this point.
In a press release, the league explains that in the case where a team “challenges” the decision of the referees on a throw of the ball into touch, when no team has been able to obtain possession and a jump ball has been whistled:
1/ The “challenge” wins if the team appealing the decision obtains possession
2/ The “challenge” loses when the opposing team obtains possession
3/ The “challenge” loses if the referees still cannot determine which team released the ball and a jump ball between the two teams is finally decided
Contrary to what Mark Daigneault thought, the NBA does not consider that a “challenge” is a winner if the arbitration decision is changed. Which deprived him of valuable timeout during Game 1 against New Orleans.
