POOL REPORTER TRANSCRIPT

Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings

December 21, 2016

NBA referee Derrick Stafford met with pool reporter Ben Dowsett after the game between the Jazz and Kings in Utah tonight. Here is the transcript of that interview:

Derrick Stafford (crew chief)           

Ben Dowsett, Basketball Insiders (pool reporter)                                                                                                   

QUESTION 1:  With 25.9 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, there was a shooting foul called on Rudy Gobert against DeMarcus Cousins. Can you explain the reasoning for this call?

Stafford: “The reason for the call was because it was a foul. As DeMarcus Cousins is going to the basket, Gobert steps with his right leg and makes contact with Cousins’ leg. Also, on the follow-through, he makes contact with his head as he’s trying to finish the shot.”

QUESTION 2: With 19.2 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, there was a shooting foul called on Ty Lawson, committed against Rudy Gobert. Can you explain the reasoning for this call?

Stafford: “Yes, Gobert goes up to dunk in a natural motion but his foot’s extended, and as Ty Lawson cuts across him, he makes contact with his foot. Now, as he gets to the other side, he reaches back, and he also makes contact with Gobert’s off arm, which also threw him off-balance. So that’s why he missed the dunk.”

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