Robert Sacre at centre of bizarre ending in Lakers win over Cavaliers
It was certainly something you don't see every night in professional basketball.
Los Angeles Lakers centre and North Vancouver, B.C. native Rob Sacre fouled out of Wednesday's night game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was allowed to stay on the court thanks to a seldom invoked NBA rule.
The Lakers went into the game with just eight available players and were down to five in the fourth quarter after Jordan Farmar and Nick Young both left with injuries and Chris Kaman fouled out with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Less than five minutes later, Sacre picked up his 6th personal foul, which would have left Los Angeles with four players. However, NBA rules state that no team can play with less than five players, so Sacre stayed in the game and the Lakers were assessed a team technical.
#rulebook pic.twitter.com/LuiYwm2zVL
— Amin Vafa (@AminNBA) February 6, 2014
Even four-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol, who is out of the Lakers lineup due to a groin injury, wasn't sure what was unfolding before him.
I've never seen this situation before!! Did anybody know about this rule!? #LakersvsCavs
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) February 6, 2014
Despite their predicament, the Lakers held on for a 119-108 win over the lowly Cavaliers.
It's not the first time an NBA team has been forced to use a player that would have ordinarily been ineligible. In 2010, the Golden State Warriors found themselves in a similar situation.
Lost in the madness was a productive performance from Toronto's Anthony Bennett. The No. 1 pick, who has struggled in his first NBA season, had 14 points and eight rebounds in just over 22 minutes of playing time.
