[Lowe] NBA has a backup lottery machine if the first one fails. They have a second backup in event the venue loses power: an official NBA basketball with a hole cut into the top of it. With no power, they would stick the 14 pingpong balls inside the basketball and have an official draw them by hand

Finally, always remember this: The NBA has a backup lottery machine if the first one fails. They have a second backup in the event the venue loses power: an official NBA basketball with a hole cut into the top of it. With no power, they would stick the 14 pingpong balls inside the basketball and have an official draw them by hand. (In the old days, they used that ball now and then for smaller decisions, including breaking ties in draft order, officials have said.)

On Tuesday morning, the NBA went to retrieve the ball-with-a-hole-in-it. They found it, but there was a problem: It was a Spalding. The NBA switched from Spalding to Wilson this season. Officials scrambled to find a Wilson ball, and then sliced a hole in the top of it.

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