Top 10 Worst Officiated Games in NBA History

A single terrible call or a sequence of terrible calls that changed who won the Finals, who would have gone to the Finals, etc.
The Top Ten
1 Lakers vs. Kings, 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6

This game proved to me that certain teams are not allowed to win the Championship and it has completely soured me to the NBA! I used to be a huge fan and I would watch every game I could, with, evidently, false hope that my team could actually win it all. This game proved that the NBA is rigged and it totally turned me off to watching or caring about it. I do think it is a CRIME to allow fans to pay outrageous prices for tickets when, in fact, their team will not be allowed to win! Just knock me over and grab my purse in a dark alley...it is no different! Legal theft and false hope!

2 Heat vs. Mavericks, 2006 NBA Finals Game 5

Dwyane Wade shot 97 free throws in the first six games of the finals. In game 5 he shot 25 tying the whole Dallas team. Was the NBA trying to "create" a star?

3 Bulls vs. Jazz, 1998 NBA Finals Game 6

Bulls won this series through spacing: they created a massive number of turnovers for Utah, which was predicated on illegal defense -- zone defense -- in their sets, which the officials refused to call. Essentially a rigged series, and the media distracts from it by only pointing toward Jordan's pushoff.

In that same game, the Bulls were actually outscored by five, as Harper had a two pointer that was after the buzzer counted, and Eisley had a three that was well-before the buzzer taken away.

People usually mention the "push off". I'm one of the best jazz fans ever and it definitely was, but what people don't look at is the calls leading up to that. Anyway, these days the Jazz are still the most un-cared about team in the league and get so many missed calls. I should also mention the Suns, nuggets and magic. Who really never get calls

4 Pistons vs. Lakers, 1988 NBA Finals Game 7

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed a skyhook in the final moments of the game. However, Bill Laimbeer fouled him. How can you foul a skyhook?

5 Lakers vs. Trail Blazers, 2000 Western Conference Finals Game 7

The Lakers had a 37-16 free throw advantage in that game. (That isn't so bad) What was bad was the fact that Scottie Pippen and Arvydas Sabonis fouled out. They were guarding Shaq and Kobe. Besides Pippen averages 2 fouls a game.

6 Celtics vs. Lakers, 2010 NBA Finals Game 7

Kobe Bryant went to the free throw line 15 times. (the Celtics team went to the free throw line 17 times in all). Kobe was 6 for 24 on the court, and he got the MVP?!?!

That was trash reffing. We got no calls while la got everything. The gasol travel was wacky and that was just the tip of the iceberg l!

7 Heat vs. Knicks, 2012 Eastern Conference First Round Game 1

The Heat probably would have won anyways but it is true that this game had terrible officiating. However, the Heat still won by 33 points, which shows that even if the officiating in the game was fair, the Heat were still the better team.

In the first half the Heat had a 28-5 free throw advantage. That was about the number of times that LeBron James flopped in that half...

8 Celtics vs. Lakers, 2008 NBA Finals Game 2

The Lakers shot 10 free throws, while the Celtics shot 38. Doesn't that seem a little one-sided?

9 Pacers vs. Knicks, 1999 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3

There was no way Larry Johnson of the New York Knicks was fouled when he made the three. He scored the free throw to win.

10 Suns vs. Spurs, 2007 Western Conference Semifinals Game 4
The Contenders
11 Bulls vs. Knicks, 1993 Eastern Conference Finals Game 5

Charles Smith of the New York Knicks was blocked four times in the last minute... or was he fouled four times.

12 Cavaliers vs. Warriors, 2016 NBA Finals Game 7

This is stupid. The officiating in game 7 was fine. The officiating in game 6 was a little bad, but, while Stephen Curry fouled out, the Warriors got away with a lot of fouls on the Cavs as well. Also, Curry fouled out because of his horrible decision making. Draymond should've been suspended. He punched Lebron in the nuts and also flopped to make it look like Lebron shoved him.

I don't know if this game was rigged or not. I think that suspending Draymond Green was rigged.

13 Pacers vs. Knicks, 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 1
14 Bucks vs. 76ers, 2001 Eastern Conference Finals Game 6

They wanted Iverson in the finals.

15 Rockets vs. Warriors, 2018 Western Conference Finals Game 7

The Refs swayed 24 points minimum to ensure the Warriors return to the Finals. Scott Foster continued his personal vendetta against James Harden as the fix was obviously in. Waving off made shots, missing Warriors players clearing out Rockets by running into and shoving them made it clear. The Rockets were up nine at the half and the Warriors didn't even have to try thanks to the officials.

16 Warriors vs. Rockets, 2018 Western Conference Finals Game 7
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