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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 26: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Head coach JJ Redick was livid about the officiating in last night’s Los Angeles Lakers 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic. Despite extending the winning streak to nine straight games, Redick felt they had to overcome bad officiating. Luke Kennard hit a clutch game-winning three-pointer to take a 1-point lead with less than a second left for the victory.
Redick was upset about LeBron James not getting a foul call before that final play and other calls throughout the game:
“So, down 2 and we get LeBron open. We actually just challenged this call in our last game, and the ball got initially hit. But then if LeBron still has possession of the ball and then gets fouled across the arm, that’s considered a foul.
(Because) we challenged that, we lost that challenge. So again, another night where explanations get changed based on a whim. We had to overcome a lot tonight, and by that, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Redick called out inconsistent officiating from game to game and the rules not holding true to one definition. Multiple Lakers players were angry at the officials throughout the game to reveal how Redick and his team felt all night.
Referee Mistake Ended Up Helping Lakers
The Lakers could have easily lost the game due to the missed call in the final seconds that upset LeBron and Redick. James looked like he got fouled in the final minutes, but the referees claimed that Paolo Banchero got a clean block to keep the game going.
A foul call would have given LeBron two free throws with a chance to tie the game as a best-case scenario with two seconds left on the clock. Either Orlando would have won the game with their final possession, or the game would have gone to overtime with five more minutes.
Things ended up working out perfectly since Kennard hit the game-winning three-pointer to take the lead with less than a second left. The Magic didn’t have any timeouts left to get a good look with such little time left. Redick is right to hold the referees accountable, but fate would see the Lakers benefiting from the mistake.
JJ Redick Wants Luka’s Technical Rescinded
Another interesting comment about the officials featured Redick claiming that he thinks the league should rescind Luka Doncic’s technical foul from last night. The sixteenth technical foul for Doncic this season will require a one-game suspension for hitting the limit.
Luka and JJ claimed that Orlando center Goga Bitadze said something offensive about Doncic’s family in another language that the officials couldn’t understand. Redick’s comment was more tailored towards the league making things right by removing Luka’s technical foul from his record.
Lakers fans have had a mixed season so far, but most supporters enjoy knowing that Redick will always speak up for his players and call out bad officiating. The recent winning shows the team has a higher ceiling to play superb basketball. Redick has answered previous criticism from earlier in the season and is gaining more confidence from the fan base.
Joey Haverford Joey Haverford is a seasoned sports content writer with over 12 years of experience. He has covered the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL, and professional wrestling in the sports industry. More about Joey Haverford
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