Lee frustrated with officiating after late tech ends Knicks' comeback effort
Courtney Lee was less than impressed with the officiating late in Wednesday's contest.
The New York Knicks were in the middle of a furious fourth-quarter rally against the Memphis Grizzlies, with Lee hitting a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three points after his side trailed by 16 entering the frame. But during a bizarre jump-ball sequence with 17 seconds remaining, the veteran shooting guard was assessed a technical foul for exchanging words with Dillon Brooks.
Tyreke Evans hit the free throw to make it a two-possession game, and the Grizzlies held on for a 105-99 win. The drama didn't end there, though, as Lee went off on the refs following the final buzzer.
Courtney Lee yelling at the officials after the game ended pic.twitter.com/IEeHlnSZcK
— The Knicks Wall (@TheKnicksWall) January 18, 2018
Lee recounted his conversation with the rookie and said if the refs are going to assess a technical foul in that situation, "it has to be a double tech."
Courtney Lee explaining the technical that essentially ended the Knicks shot at a comeback pic.twitter.com/GsBX3xsQgO
— Talkin’ Knicks (@TalkinKnicks) January 18, 2018
Crew chief Derrick Stafford explained postgame that Lee bumped Brooks as they were lining up for the jump ball. Stafford said he told the two to "knock it off and let (him) toss the ball," only for Lee to direct "inappropriate language" toward Brooks, earning the critical tech.
The NBA confirmed the tech on Lee was the correct call in Thursday's Last Two Minute Report.