Uh - not a three

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

It also took some time to convince the scorer that no player got credit for the score but that he was just to put it in a footnote at the bottom of the page. Of course, he kept telling me that in the NBA, the closest player from the other team gets credit for the points. I told him that when he becomes a scorekeeper in the NBA, he can do that.

I believe under NBA rules given this scenario, it would be a violation. Only a ball accidentally tipped into the wrong basket is scored as described:

From 2006-07 NBA Rules:

5-I-d: "A field goal accidentally scored in an opponent's basket shall be added to the opponent's score, credited to the opposing player nearest the shooter and mentioned in a footnote."

5-I-e: "It is a violation for a player to attempt a field goal at an opponent's basket. The opposing team will be awarded the ball at the free throw line extended."