A day after the Pacers’ stunning comeback win over the Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the NBA released its officials’ Last Two Minute (L2M) report from the game.
It listed three wrong/missed calls. And two of them are pretty notable — especially if you’re a Cleveland fan.
That Aaron Nesmith putback jam? Should not have counted.
How about Tyrese Haliburton getting his own rebound off his missed free throw that led to his game-winning 3-pointer? Should not have counted.
As impressive as that Nesmith putback dunk off a missed Pascal Siakam free throw was, Nesmith entered the 3-point line prior to Siakam releasing the ball, giving him a headstart on the rebound and putback. However, Cleveland’s Ty Jerome also encroached early. So the call should have been no basket, with a jump ball at midcourt. Nesmith’s slam brought the Pacers to within five points (119-114) with 47.2 seconds left.
Then with 12 seconds left and Haliburton shooting the second of two free throws and the Pacers down 119-117, Haliburton corralled a rebound after Myles Turner was able to tip it away from Cleveland defenders. Haliburton then dribbled the ball out and drilled a 3 at the top of the key with 1.1 seconds left. The NBA’s L2M says, “Multiple players enter the lane and cross the 3-point line before the ball is released for the free throw, and the shooter steps over the plane of the free throw line before the ball touches the rim. The call should have been made and a jump ball held at midcourt.”
And none of that says the Pacers shouldn’t have won the game. They theoretically could have won both jump balls and scored anyway. But…
The other missed call was on a non-called defensive 3 seconds on Donovan Mitchell for being in the paint without actively guarding an opponent for longer than three seconds at the 15-second mark. Ty Jerome would soon foul Haliburton, which led to the aforementioned free throws.
The L2M also confirmed the on-court call a common foul, but no flagrant for Mitchell’s swinging elbow on Nesmith with 46 seconds left.
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