The Philadelphia Sixers suffered a heartbreaking loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their playoff series, and now they are taking action. A team spokesperson has announced that the Sixers will be filing a complaint with the NBA league office regarding the officiating in not just the final minute of Game 2, but also the way both games of the series have been officiated.

In the closing moments of Game 2, the Sixers seemed destined for victory, holding a five-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining. However, a series of unfortunate events unraveled their hopes. First, the officiating crew appeared to miss Sixers head coach Nick Nurse's attempts to call a timeout, denying the team a chance to regroup and secure a two-point lead with the opportunity to advance the ball to half-court.

As Nurse's attempts at a timeout went unnoticed, Kyle Lowry was forced to make a risky inbounds pass to Tyrese Maxey. Maxey, who had been exceptional throughout the game, managed to catch the pass while being fouled by Jalen Brunson. However, the referees made no call on the play, leaving the Sixers frustrated.

Nurse continued to try and signal for a timeout, but once again, his efforts were in vain. The chaos reached its peak when Josh Hart stole the ball from Maxey while he was on the floor, giving the Knicks possession and a chance to tie or take the lead. In the end, Donte DiVincenzo drained a crucial three-pointer, leaving the Sixers stunned and facing a 0-2 series deficit.

Following the loss, both Nurse and Joel Embiid expressed their dissatisfaction with the officiating. Embiid deemed it "unacceptable," reflecting the team's general sentiment of frustration and disappointment.

While the Sixers' decision to file a complaint is understandable given the circumstances, some may argue that it rings hollow. Filing a grievance or protest is highly unlikely to impact the outcome of the game or the series, as successful protests are extremely rare in the NBA. In fact, the league office typically denies protests soon after they are filed.

However, it is possible that the NBA may acknowledge the officials' missed opportunities, such as Nurse's repeated attempts to call a timeout and the failure to recognize Brunson's foul on Maxey. These incidents could potentially be recorded in the NBA's Last 2 Minute (L2M) reports, which address critical late-game calls made by officials.

As the Sixers prepare for Game 3 in Philadelphia, they must put the crushing defeat behind them and focus on their next challenge. The outcome of their complaint remains uncertain, but it serves as a testament to the team's determination to address the officiating issues that have plagued the first two games of the series.