NBA Grants First Protest In Over 25 Years

The NBA announced on Friday that they have granted a game protest for the first time in more than 25 years. The protest was granted to the Miami Heat who filed a protest after their loss to the Atlanta Hawks 117-111, on December 19, at Phillips Arena in Atlanta. The protest was filed because they said that center Shaquille O’Neal was disqualified incorrectly with 51.9 seconds left in overtime and Atlanta leading 114-111. The official scorer ruled the Miami center had 6 fouls and had fouled out of the contest when he actually only had 5. NBA Commissioner David Stern ruled that the Hawks were “grossly negligent” and has fined the team 50 thousand dollars. The last 51.9 seconds will be replayed with O’Neal back in the game (if his hip is healed) and the score 114-111 prior to the regularly scheduled game between the two teams on March 8 at Phillips Arena. The last time a protest was granted in the Association was December 14,1982 by the San Antonio Spurs after losing a double overtime game to the Los Angeles Lakers 137-132. The Spurs ended up with the win when the game was resumed in April 1983.