Most days, the NBA’s “last two-minute” report drops without a stir. The league created the public mechanism to review calls — and non-calls — during the final two minutes of games that were within five points with 120 seconds to play.
Sunday’s hefty matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers fit the requirements for a report. The game was tied at 103-103 when it moved by the two-minute mark Sunday and on its way to producing two officiating errors.
With 1:43 to play, LeBron James drove down the lane for a two-handed dunk. He was also fouled by Draymond Green. James hanged on the rim for a few seconds, swinging his legs and yanking on the iron. Green pointed to James and looked at the referees, wondering why James was not assessed a technical for his rim ride.
From the NBA’s rule book for technical foul calls when hanging on the rim:
“Players are not allowed to pull themselves up on the rim, nor are they allowed to hang on the rim after a dunk attempt, unless they are doing so to avoid injury to themselves or another player. The offensive player on this play pulls himself up on the rim and kicks his legs into the air following his successful dunk. This type of reaction is an immediate technical foul for hanging on the rim.”
Monday’s two-minute report said James should have received a technical foul on the play.
The other incorrect call came on the final play of the game. Kevin Durant came off a screen, received the ball with three seconds to play and was trailed by the Cavaliers’ Richard Jefferson. Jefferson stepped on Durant’s foot and pushed him in the back. Durant fell, the horn sounded and Cleveland had a 109-108 win in the fifth most-watched NBA game in ABC history. The league labeled that an incorrect non-call, citing Jefferson’s “foot-to-foot” contact.
The corrections will only add heat to the rivalry between the teams that have met in the last two NBA Finals and are expected to be there again this season.
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