The NBA admitted on Wednesday that their officials made an error with a foul call in the final seconds of Tuesday’s Los Angeles Clippers-Portland Trail Blazers game.
Portland was leading 112-111 with under 10 seconds left, but the Clippers had the ball. Paul George drove to the basket o try and take the lead. CJ McCollum was defending him and got called for a foul that put George at the line. You can see the video of the play.
The NBA’s last 2-minute report determined that the foul call that gave Paul George the eventual game-winning free throws last night, with 4.8 seconds left, was incorrect.
“George drives to the basket and marginal contact occurs with McCollum.” pic.twitter.com/4fqfNKmIH3— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) April 21, 2021
George went to the line and made both of his free throws to put the Clippers up 113-112, which was the final score. McCollum had a chance to win the game but missed his final shot attempt.
Even though that call went the Clippers’ way, Clippers coach Ty Lue said they had issues with the officiating all night.
The Clippers weren’t exactly pleased with the calls during the previous 48 minutes, either. (We all saw Boogie’s face after Scott Foster’s review.) Ty Lue was asked why he looked so animated late in the game: “I just thought we played through the officiating all night.” https://t.co/BmbQ5wrxuB pic.twitter.com/Ne5wm7OKVK
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) April 21, 2021
The officials might have thought McCollum reached in and swatted at George, which led to the foul call.
Some fans thought the call might have been a makeup for the officials missing this one while George was shooting:
They reviewed this and said it wasn’t a foul.
Paul George is one of the worst officiated stars in the league. pic.twitter.com/gld6qmT6qE
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 21, 2021
