The NBA later admitted a series of officiating blunders during the game’s final seconds. This was the case during the Golden State Warriors’ 121-116 play-in win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. The league’s Last Two Minute Report exposed some glaring errors by the officiating crew. Referees Josh Tiven, Bill Kennedy, and Nick Buchert combined to miss at least two game-altering calls in the final seconds of the game.
In our favor, the NBA agreed that officials made a correct call on a Memphis five-second violation during a key inbound play. The report highlighted a missed call on Draymond Green, who should have been penalized for a personal foul on Scotty Pippen Jr. with just 1:29 left in the game. This lack of attention to detail could have cost the Grizzlies a chance to boost their overall scoring effectiveness.
The SHARP report emphasized that Brandin Podziemski did not deserve to be penalized for a personal foul. This head-scratching decision was made in a crucial point in the game, allowing Pippen Jr. two free throws. The Warriors’ big man eventually fouled out of the game with 58.6 seconds remaining, further complicating Golden State’s situation as they attempted to secure their playoff position.
Just 7.3 seconds were left on the clock when play was halted. Golden State clung to a one-point advantage, and Ja Morant went in for the strip on Stephen Curry, getting a hand on the ball. Except the ball traveled out of bounds after the whistle. The NBA confirmed that officials incorrectly ruled it off Curry’s hand, which would have given possession to Memphis.
With pressure mounting, Zach Edey finished a vital putback to bring the Warriors’ advantage down to three points at 114-111. Ja Morant followed that up with one of two free throws, cutting even deeper at the score to 117-114. Following those dramatic series of events, Curry was fouled on the floor. He followed that by icing the game away for the Warriors at the charity stripe, clinching Golden State’s place as the seventh seed in the playoffs.
Though officials certainly made their fair share of missteps, the Warriors are looking to turn the page. That would be the Houston Rockets—GState’s opponents in Game 1, this Sunday. The errors highlighted in the Last Two Minute Report have sparked discussions regarding officiating standards and their impact on game outcomes.
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