NBA: Refs erred 4 times in Celtics-Bucks ending
TORONTO — The final seconds of the Milwaukee Bucks‘ victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night was full of drama, intrigue and, as it turns out, several incorrect calls.
The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report for the Bucks’ 98-97 win listed three incorrect calls on the final play alone, as well as an incorrect ruling on Brook Lopez‘s attempted tip-in with 3.7 seconds remaining.
The Lopez tip came after a jump ball, which was caused when Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was tied up by Celtics guard Marcus Smart with 0.2 remaining on the shot clock. Antetokounmpo won the subsequent tip and hit the ball toward Lopez, as the burly 7-footer was positioned right near the rim.
Lopez succeeded in tipping the ball at the rim, which seemed to potentially allow the final seconds to slip away to seal Milwaukee’s victory. However, officials ruled at the time that Lopez had attempted to shoot the ball, rather than tip it — and because there was only 0.2 on the clock (rather than 0.3, which is the time required to get a shot off), it was deemed a shot-clock violation.
Crew chief Mike Callahan confirmed that was the ruling on the floor with a pool reporter following Thursday’s game. The Last Two Minute Report, however, said it should in fact have been ruled a tip, and thus Lopez’s shot should have counted.
The ensuing possession for the Celtics, however, was filled with even more issues. Three calls were said to be missed: an illegal screen by Kyrie Irving on Khris Middleton; a subsequent hold by Middleton on Marcus Morris to prevent him from using Irving’s screen to catch a wide-open lob at the rim; and an Eric Bledsoe foul on Irving on his drive before he missed what would have been a game-winning shot.
Irving’s shot was off target, however, and Milwaukee went on to win the game.