Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson declined to blame the referees for what the NBA deemed three incorrect calls in the final minute of the game, including one that led to Tyrese Haliburton’s game-winning three-pointer in Indiana’s victory over Cleveland. The game ended with a score of 120-119 in favor of the Pacers in the second game of the Eastern Conference semifinals series.
On Wednesday, the NBA released its “Last Two Minute Report” of the game, where it pointed out two lane violations and a defensive 3-second call that were not called. The NBA publishes these reports after games where the difference is three points or less at any point in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
According to the report, Haliburton should have been penalized for a lane violation for stepping over the free throw line before the ball touched the rim on a missed free throw, with 12.4 seconds remaining and with Indiana trailing 119-117.
Haliburton grabbed the offensive rebound after the ball was deflected by several players, dribbled to the 3-point line and made the game-winning shot from the top of the key, completing the Pacers’ comeback, who were down 20 points in the second half, to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
However, Haliburton was not the only player to commit a lane violation on the play. The NBA indicated that multiple players entered the lane.
I think we always have a recency bias. So, what happened in the last 30 seconds? It’s like, how did you blow that 20-point lead?
Kenny Atkinson
Atkinson, recognized as the NBA’s Coach of the Year on Monday, commented that his biggest concerns were how the Cavaliers lost their lead and how Indiana scored the final eight points in 47.9 seconds to get the win.
The NBA also noted that several players committed lane violations with 48 seconds remaining on a missed free throw by Indiana’s Pascal Siakam. One of the players was Aaron Nesmith, whose dunk after the rebound brought the Pacers within 118-113.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell should have been called for a 3-second violation with 15 seconds remaining. That would have been a technical foul, where Indiana should have received a free throw and maintained possession of the ball.
While Atkinson has criticized some of the unmade decisions and his feeling that the physical play has been excessive, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle pointed out that his team has been called for nine more fouls than the Cavaliers.
The series moves to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday.
Look, we don’t expect any gifts from the referees and I don’t think we’ve gotten any in the first two games. I know they didn’t agree with some calls, it’s part of this.
Rick Carlisle
