The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report on Sunday didn’t go entirely in favor of the Boston Celtics.
And if everything was called to the letter of the law, Jayson Tatum’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer in overtime against the Toronto Raptors would not have counted.
The report revealed Tatum traveled just prior to getting his game-winning shot off when “he slides his pivot foot before releasing his dribble.” The replay does show Tatum shuffling his feet very quickly before getting into his move against Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji.
That wasn’t the only call that was missed in the final seconds according to the report, though.
It was deemed that a foul should have been whistled on Raptors guard Davion Mitchell when he ran into Jaylen Brown, who was coming off a screen from Al Horford, with seven seconds left. The contact from Mitchell made Brown tumble to the floor.
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Brown was critical of the officiating for that non-call following Boston’s thrilling 126-123 win. Tatum even thought as it happened there would be a foul called on Mitchell and he admitted he “paused” waiting for the call to be made.
The Celtics certainly will take both calls being overlooked as they got the result they wanted thanks to Tatum. The Raptors, who own the worst record in the NBA at 2-12, are understandably more upset since wins will be hard to come by this season.
Boston will now turn its attention to a massive showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA Cup play Tuesday night at TD Garden. The Cavaliers enter the matchup with a perfect 15-0 record.
Featured image via Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images
