Spurs' Mitch Johnson Explains Why Referees Didn't Grant His Challenge
The San Antonio Spurs are currently behind 3-2 in the series after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder 127-114 in Game 5. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama had an underwhelming game with 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks on 4-for-15 shooting. Despite his struggles on the floor, most fans blamed the officiating.
The moment that many Spurs fans are referring to happened in the final minute of the third quarter. Luke Kornet, the backup center, attempted a putback but was stopped by Cason Wallace. The review, however, revealed that it was a blatant goaltending infraction that was not deemed in-game.
Johnson turned to the referees to challenge the call. Even players on the bench joined the head coach in doing the challenge motion to get the officials' attention. Unfortunately for the Spurs, their request was not granted and the play continued. The team's bench was also given a technical foul for stepping onto the court while the ball was in play.
After the Game 5 loss, Johnson was asked by the media about why his challenge request was not acknowledged. The head coach kept his response about the matter short and said this:
"They just said they didn't see me," Johnson said.
Mitch Johnson: "They just said they didn't see me"
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Aside from the no-call on the goaltend, there was also a no-call on an out-of-bounds play. The ball landed on Chet Holmgren's left foot, and he was not called for a kicked ball violation. Rather, it was recorded as a turnover on Wembanyama.
However, other aspects in the game contributed to the Spurs' defeat.
Mitch Johnson Addressed What Went Wrong in Game 5
The Spurs entered their matchup with a clear advantage: a complete squad. The Thunder, meanwhile, did not have key players Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell on the floor. Yet, even short-handed, the defending champions still prevailed and secured a victory on their home floor.
San Antonio's head coach did not hold back in criticizing what went wrong for the team, admitting that the Spurs were underwhelming in multiple areas.
"It just felt like it was a little bit of everything, in terms of we did not put ourselves in position enough to be successful in each possession," Johnson said.
The Thunder is one game away from being in the NBA Finals to face the New York Knicks. The Spurs, meanwhile, will try to force a Game 7 on Thursday, as they host the defending champions for Game 6.
Related: Anthony Edwards Reveals Message on Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 12:31 AM.