SAN FRANCISCO — The NBA on Wednesday acknowledged that officials made four critical officiating mistakes in the closing moments of the Golden State Warriors’ 121-116 play-in victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
In its Last Two Minute Report, the league revealed that two of the incorrect calls occurred in the final 37 seconds of the game — both of which favored the Warriors.
The first misstep cited was a personal foul called on Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski after he blocked a layup attempt by Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. with 37 seconds left in the game.
“The NBA, in its Last Two Minute Report on Wednesday, said this block by Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski on Memphis’ Scotty Pippen Jr. with 37 seconds remaining should not have been called a foul.”
Podziemski’s foul led to two free throws for Pippen, who converted one, trimming Golden State’s lead to 117-114.
The second crucial error came with 7.3 seconds remaining. Ja Morant appeared to reach in and knock the ball out of Stephen Curry’s hands. The ball went out of bounds, and the officials awarded possession to the Warriors.
However, the NBA report stated that the ball last touched Curry, meaning Memphis should have been given possession in a one-point game.
One critical play the league said the referees handled correctly was a five-second violation against the Grizzlies during an inbound play while trailing 119-116 with 5.4 seconds remaining. The Warriors regained possession, and Curry was subsequently fouled and iced the game from the free-throw line.
The league also highlighted two missed calls earlier in the final two minutes.
Referees failed to call a personal foul on Draymond Green, who made illegal contact with Pippen at the 1:29 mark. Had the foul been called, it would have been Green’s sixth, disqualifying him from the game earlier than his eventual exit at 58.6 seconds remaining.
Another incorrect non-call came when Memphis center Zach Edey interfered with the ball above the cylinder during a putback attempt with 1:28 left. The putback, which should have been ruled offensive goaltending, was allowed and credited to Edey, cutting the Warriors’ lead to 114-111.
Despite the controversial finish, the Warriors advanced to secure the Western Conference’s 7-seed and will travel to face the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies will have one more chance to stay alive in the playoffs. Memphis will host the winner of Wednesday night’s play-in matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings in a do-or-die game Friday to determine the West’s 8-seed.
