NBA denies Kings' protest of loss to Grizzlies

The Sacramento Kings' protest of their controversial 110-109 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies has been denied by commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA announced Friday.

The league released the following statement following its review of the Nov. 12 game.

The basis for the Kings’ protest was that Courtney Lee’s game-winning shot should have been disqualified as having been made after time expired.  Under league procedures, each team has an opportunity to make submissions in support of its position, and the protesting team is required to establish a misapplication of the official playing rules that had a clear impact on the game’s outcome.

The commissioner determined that the game officials’ call that Lee’s shot was timely was within their judgment and not a misapplication of the playing rules. Sacramento’s protest therefore did not justify the extraordinary remedy of overturning the game’s result.

What the explanation doesn't address, however, is the Kings' claim that big man Ryan Hollins tipped the inbounds pass, which should've started the clock well before the ball ever got to Lee.

Nevertheless, as expected, the result stands.