The NBA's most-awaited Last Two Minute Report is in, and the verdict is (drumroll please) … no foul on James Harden's last 3-point attempt.
However, the report indicates there was a foul on Stephen Curry with 5.2 seconds left, a call that Chris Paul protested to the sideline referee before earning his second technical of the game and consequent ejection:
The NBA’s last two-minute report verdict on James Harden’s 3-point shot with 10.1 seconds left in Game 1 against Golden State: No foul. Stephen Curry incident with Eric Gordon with 5.2 seconds: Incorrect non-call.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 29, 2019
Harden visibly kicked out his legs in hopes to draw contact, but the officials didn't bite on the whistle, and correctly so:
https://twitter.com/dkurtenbach/status/1122624539735683072
According to the report, there were three incorrect calls in the last two minutes and they all went against the Rockets, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, which merited the feeling of injustice after the game.
Among them was Curry fouling Harden before he stepped out of bounds attempting to gain separation, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:
This would have been Curry's sixth and last foul of the game, rendering him unable to take and make the game-winning three that eventually catapulted Golden State to a Game 1 win.
James Harden stepped back…. All the way out of bounds 😬 pic.twitter.com/Pgh5Ois6Ko
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 28, 2019
The Rockets are unequivocally convinced the Warriors are being unfairly favored by the officials, and have even built a case for it, which they plan to present to the league.
Game 1 wasn't short of polemical calls and no-calls, which ultimately ended in Harden and Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni arguing they should have had more whistles going their way — up to 20 more free throws, according to D'Antoni.
The Rockets did shoot two more free throws than the Warriors, with Harden leading the way, making 13 of 14 attempts. However, Houston felt Harden was fouled on plenty of 3-point attempts throughout the game, which weren't called early on:
https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/1122600611726409731
Down 1-0 in the series, the Rockets have now put the league on notice, and so will be the next crew of officials that take the court for Game 2 on Tuesday.
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