Why the Grizzlies-Lakers game lasted one minute longer than it should have

The Friday match between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers lasted one minute and six seconds longer than expected due to a clock management error.

Clock error extended Grizzlies-Lakers game

“We have confirmed that the Game clock was set incorrectly in the third quarter,” acknowledged Tim Frank, NBA spokesperson, in a statement collected by American media outlets on Saturday. “After the possession ended, the clock was set to 2.20 when it should have been at 1.14. This error went unnoticed in real time by the teams, referees, clock operator, and the table,” he added.

On social media, a video of the match can be seen where Memphis attacks and, in the final seconds, launches two consecutive shots that do not touch the rim, indicating their possession should have ended there.

Did the time error affect the Grizzlies-Lakers result?

There is an initial error by the table as they grant a new possession as if the second shot had hit the basket. The referee notices this mistake and stops play.

However, in the following possession, the Lakers do not start the play with 1.14 remaining but with 2.20 due to a new error in the clock, resulting in the third quarter lasting 13.06 instead of the regulation 12.00.

As confirmed by ESPN’s review, in those extra 66 seconds, both the Grizzlies and Lakers scored two points each, so the error did not impact the final result (a victory for the Lakers, 120-123).