LaMelo Ball's uncalled travel on a three-pointer in Timberwolves' win over Heat draws scrutiny
Photo: Fox NewsLaMelo Ball scored 21 points with six assists in his Minnesota Timberwolves debut on Wednesday, a 131-106 win over the Miami Heat in Miami. A three-pointer he made appeared to include about four steps without a dribble, and officials did not call a travel. ESPN's broadcast crew, including Mike Breen and Tim Legler, said in unison that it was a travel, and Breen said it had to be called. Ball, 25, defended the move on SportsCenter, saying that if he lets the ball guide him without touching it, he can take as many steps as he wants. His brother Lonzo reposted the clip with a mocking comment. The official NBA Referees X account said it was traveling.
Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing; alternative/independent and right-leaning outlets had. Awful Announcing, the alternative source, focuses on the announcers' disbelief and on referees' general leniency on travels. The New York Post emphasizes Ball's defense, Lonzo's reaction and the referees' statement, while Fox News adds that Ball talked trash to fans. The outlets place the play in different quarters.
How the sides differ Left sources have not covered it; alternative sources stress announcers' reaction and referee leniency, while right sources add Ball's defense, his family's reaction and trash-talking.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
Not covering this story. None of the left-leaning outlets Crosswire tracks has reported it yet. What one side leaves out can be as telling as what the others report.
Awful Announcing leads with the ESPN announcers' reaction on opening night, quoting their disbelief and criticizing referees' tolerance of travels. It centers on the broadcast crew rather than Ball's response.
The New York Post leads with the missed call, then features Ball's on-air defense, his brother Lonzo's post and the referees' account. Fox News stresses the carry's severity and Ball's trash talk toward fans.