NBC scorebug error sparks confusion after Hawks stun Knicks in Game 2

The Hawks pulled off a wild one at Madison Square Garden. The NBC broadcast added a little chaos of its own.

Atlanta rallied from 14 down to beat the Knicks 107-106 in Game 2, stunning New York and tying the series. The finish was frantic, messy and immediately sparked debate about whether coach Mike Brown should have called a timeout on the final possession.

Only problem? He didn’t have one.

During the closing sequence, NBC’s scorebug briefly showed the Knicks with one timeout remaining after previously listing them at zero. That shift made it seem like New York chose not to stop play, when in reality it had no option.

On the call, Noah Eagle even suggested a timeout was likely coming. Moments later, the Knicks were racing up the floor without one.

That disconnect did not go unnoticed.

Criticism that initially landed on Brown quickly turned toward the broadcast, as viewers pointed out the discrepancy. The confusion only added to an already chaotic finish.

NBC later addressed it.

At halftime of Timberwolves-Nuggets, studio host Maria Taylor explained that a data issue led to the incorrect timeout being displayed. In short, the graphic was wrong.

That helped clear things up, though it did not erase the moment.

Analyst Carmelo Anthony admitted he was thrown off, too, saying he initially believed the Knicks had a timeout based on what he saw on screen.

It was not the cleanest night for the network. Between the scorebug error and a delayed switch to the late game, there were some bumps along the way.

The biggest takeaway still belongs to Atlanta. The Hawks stole one on the road. The rest just made it a little more confusing than it needed to be.