LeBron James was livid with referees missing Jayson Tatum swiping his arm on a layup that could have given his Los Angeles Lakers team victory over the Boston Celtics.

With the game tied at 105-105 with just over three seconds left on the clock James drove to the basket and missed a layup.

The Lakers star thought he was clearly fouled by Tatum and reacted furiously to the decision not to signal a foul.

He gesticulated wildly, crumbling to the floor, looking in disbelief as he fell to his knees with the game heading to overtime. The Lakers went on to lose 125-121 to the Eastern Conference leaders.

James's teammate Patrick Beverley picked up a technical foul for challenging officials by picking up a camera and pointing out the foul at the end of regulation.

Potential game-winning free throws would have been given had the foul been called by referees.

James was visibly annoyed when he gave an interview postgame, he said: 'You saw my reaction. It's challenging. I don't get it. I don't understand.

'It's been building, you've seen some of the games we've lost this year, late game missed calls. We had the opportunity to literally win the game.

'Second one in the last few weeks for myself, against Dallas I had an opportunity to win the game if the foul was called. I don't understand what we're doing.

'I watch basketball every single day. I watch these games every single day. I don't see it happening to anybody else. It's weird.'

To make matters worse referee Eric Lewis admitted the foul was missed after the Celtics sealed victory in overtime.

Boston Globe reporter Adam Himmelsbach asked: 'It looked like there was contact on LeBron's drive at the end of regulation. Why was there no foul call there and what did you see there?'

Lewis replied: 'There was contact. At the time, during the game, we did not see a foul. The crew missed the play.' 

James's teammate Anthony Davis said on the incident: 'It's bulls***. It's unacceptable... we got cheated tonight.'

'The best player on earth can't get a call. It's amazing,' Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. 

'As much as you try not to put it on the officiating, it's becoming increasingly difficult.' 

Tatum refused to be drawn on the controversial play, saying the end of the game was 'all a blur'.