Pacers File Protest After Loss To Magic
The Indiana Pacers have filed a protest over calls which let Orlando shoot - and hit - four free throws in a row in the Magic’s 93-91 win Friday.
Pacers president Donnie Walsh filed the protest regarding the referees’ ruling in the third quarter allowing the Magic to shoot the four free throws to correct an error on a previous play.
The confusion began when Pacers forward Antonio Davis was called for fouling Danny Schayes with 55.5 seconds left in the third quarter. It was the second foul on Indiana within the final two minutes of the period, so Schayes should have been awarded free throws.
But neither the Orlando scorekeeper nor referees Bernie Fryer, Mike Callahan and Tim Donaghy noticed, and the Magic took the ball out of bounds. Orlando’s trainer went to the scorer’s table to point out the mistake while play continued, and Magic guard Nick Anderson was fouled on a rebound basket with 34.4 seconds remaining.
Schayes and Anderson both were awarded free throws, an apparent violation of an NBA rule saying a correctable error shall be ignored “if the offensive team scores or shoots earned free throws on the next possession which occurred due to not attempting merited free throws.”
The Pacers believe Anderson should have been given foul shots, but not Schayes.
Magic sign Webb
The injury-riddled Orlando Magic found help at point guard, signing 34-year-old Spud Webb to a 10-day contract Sunday.
Center Yinka Dare, obtained in a five-player trade that sent Rony Seikaly to New Jersey last week, was waived to make room for Webb.
On the courts
Danny Manning and Dennis Scott came off the bench to spark a game-ending 17-2 run in the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns beat the visiting San Antonio Spurs 97-79 Sunday.
At Portland, Arvydas Sabonis had 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Trail Blazers ruined Kenny Anderson’s return to Portland with a 121-96 victory over the Boston Celtics.
At Philadelphia, Reggie Miller scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half as the Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-92.