Last night wasn’t a fair one for Mavericks star, Kristaps Porzingis after he got ejected from his debut postseason game against the Clippers. He was sent to the bench in the third quarter of the match after his second technical foul. Immense criticism stirred around the decision of the referees and particularly, Kane Fitzgerald.

What was the chronology of Kristaps’ exit?

The first technical foul came after Porzingis made an attempt to block Paul Geroge’s drive-in layup. Many players and analysts have asserted it as a clean piece of play and that technical foul was a wrong call. Moreover, the second time, Kristaps intervened in the scrum between his teammate, Luka Doncic and, Marcus Morris.

After some discussion amongst the technical crew, Kristaps was sent out of the game, and Dallas coach, Rick Carlisle was late to challenge it. The best player of the team out on the bench just like that and it led to their defeat in a worthless fashion.

Shannon Sharpe completely shuns the referee for the decision against Kristaps Porzingis

NBA Analyst, Shannon Sharpe took a dig at referee, Kane Fitzgerald for his decision over Kristap’s exit.

“First of all, he shouldn’t have got the first technical because that was a clean block on Paul George, to begin with,” Sharpe told Skip Bayless on Undisputed.

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Shannon also revealed that Kane is the same referee who threw LeBron James out of the game a few years back for questioning him.

“I want Adam Silva, I need you to take a look at this, that Kane Fitzgerald, there’s nobody down in the bubble, but a lot of times he thinks people come to see him referee. He is the guy who threw LeBron out because LeBron asked him a question once upon a time.”

Kane Fitzgerald changed the ‘complexion of the game’

Shannon Sharpe does believe that Fitzgerald changed the ‘complexion of the ball game’. Well, it mostly did. Luka bagged record-breaking 42 points and despite that, they lost to Kawhi Leonard and Paul Geroge. It reflects how Kristap’s absence transformed the face of the game.

“Kane Fitgerald nobody is coming to see you ref the game. He changed the entire complexion of the ball game because when Porzingis went out they (Mavericks) were up [by] five.” Sharpe added.

“But I don’t believe he should have gotten a technical in the first place. What should he do, walk up on a guy? Come on. In a playoff game, you let that one go.”

Moreover, disappointment was expressed across the league. LeBron James called the decision ‘BOGUS’. Others such as Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Love also tweeted against it.