Refs Blew 'Huge' Call At End Of Game 4 on Wednesday Night
San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox is taking a lot of heat for his layup attempt at the end of Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Fox went for a lay-in with the Spurs leading the Knicks by one point and the final seconds of the game ticking away. However, Fox's attempt was blocked by OG Anunoby, who ended up making the game-winning tip-in on the other end of the floor.
ESPN's Charles Barkley ripped Fox for his "dumb" decision after Game 4.
"That was a (expletive) play," Barkley said. "He did not have to shoot that ball. He could have just got fouled, there was no reason for him to shoot that ball."
But should Fox actually be getting blamed?
A new photo shows that Fox was actually fouled pretty clearly by Anunoby on his layup attempt. He should have been at the free-throw line, shooting two shots to give the Spurs a 3-point lead.
"It looks like the force of OG hitting Fox's arm is what caused the ball to only softly hit the backboard. Fox retains firm possession of the ball even as OG seems to slightly tip it in Fox's lay-up progression. In the NBA, slight contact with the ball does not automatically make all subsequent contact legal," Jon Root shared.
NBA fans react to 'huge' blown call
Was the call missed or was this just a tough play?
"Was a clear foul, still gotta dribble it out tho to shoot the ft's," one fan wrote.
"This is irrelevant considering he would have got the free throws he deserved if he just held the ball to begin with," one fan added.
"Doesn't matter, not getting that call there and you shouldn't. No reason to take that shot," another fan wrote.
"This was still one of the worst decisions I have seen a veteran NBA player make in the moment & the game should have never come down to this. But yea...this is a foul," one fan added.
What do you think - did the NBA refs miss a big one here?
Game 5 is set for Saturday night.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 9:27 AM.