"Snowflake call" - NBA fans express outrage after Ja Morant gets ejected with second technical foul vs Kings

Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant was ejected from Thursday's 115-110 home victory over the Sacramento Kings for disputing a seemingly questionable foul call. Afterward, NBA fans expressed outrage at the officials for the pivotal ruling that could have cost Memphis the game.

With the Grizzlies leading 98-97 with 6:45 remaining, Morant contested Kings star forward DeMar DeRozan's turnaround midrange jumper. The two-time All-Star appeared to keep his arm straight up. Nevertheless, he was whistled for a foul, sending DeRozan to the free-throw line.

Morant promptly vented his frustration, grabbing his head and punching his hand before letting out a scream. Afterward, he continued jawing and gesturing at the referees, receiving his second technical foul and an automatic ejection.

In Ja Morant's absence, Memphis (15-8) hung on for its seventh win in its last eight outings. Seven of its players scored in double figures, led by veteran guard Marcus Smart and wing Desmond Bane, who each tallied 18 points.

However, fans on X/Twitter still took exception to Morant's ejection. Many blasted the officiating crew for its marginal foul call and game-altering technical foul assessment.

"The fix is in. Snowflake call," @MrOGcrocs said.

"That was not a foul," @Heatflyy wrote.

"(The) game's gotten so soft, man. (The) refs call so much weak s**t. That was GREAT DEFENSE," @SimGamingNetwrk said.

"Sorry-a** refs," @lividwtw wrote.

Meanwhile, some called for the referees to be penalized for hindering the contest's entertainment value.

"Refs need to start getting fined for bad calls. People paid money to watch Ja, not the refs," @konigoat said.

"Fire that ref," @tervisscoot wrote.

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Officials admit mistakenly calling late-game foul on Ja Morant that sparked his second technical foul against Kings

Following Thursday's matchup, officiating crew chief Pat Fraher broke down Ja Morant's controversial late-game foul on DeMar DeRozan and subsequent ejection.

The veteran official noted that Morant's second technical foul stemmed from him using profanity while gesturing toward the referees. However, Fraher acknowledged that he and his crew made the incorrect call on Morant's contest of DeRozan's jumper.

"In live play, the official thought that Morant bumped DeRozan on his jump shot," Fraher said. "However, after postgame review, Morant was in (a) legal guarding position and should not have been called for a foul."

Fortunately for Memphis, Morant was having an off night before his ejection. He finished with eight points, three rebounds, seven assists and one block, shooting just 2-for-13 (15.4%).

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