NBA says Harden winner should not have counted
HOUSTON — The NBA says James Harden‘s game-winning shot in the Houston Rockets‘ Game 3, 97-96 win over the Golden State Warriors should not have counted.
The league said Friday that Harden initiated contact with the Warriors’ Andre Iguodala before hitting the shot with 2.7 seconds to play in Thursday night’s game.
On the replay, it appears Harden pushed off Iguodala before converting his 10-foot step back jumper.
It was among five incorrect calls in the last two minutes, the NBA said Friday in its assessment of officials’ crunch-time performance dubbed the “Last Two Minute Report.”
Ian Clark‘s layup had put Golden State up by one with 10.6 seconds left after Shaun Livingston stole a pass from Trevor Ariza on the other end.
Harden, who finished with 35 points, then took it downcourt and stepped back for the jump shot to win it.
“The last shot was typical of what James does,” Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The move, we’ve seen before. The finish, we’ve seen before. You do get spoiled by it at times, but in these biggest of moments, you can’t help but appreciate it.”
Golden State had a chance to win it after Harden’s shot, but Draymond Green dribbled the inbounds pass off his foot and out of bounds.
“I cost us the game,” Green said. “The world will think I’m talking about that last turnover but I’m not. That happens. I was awful the whole game. I care about that turnover, but I cost us the game way before then.”
The NBA also said it is reviewing Green for possible discipline over his conduct at the end of the game.
With one second left, Green grabbed Houston’s Michael Beasley and brought him to the ground as the Rockets were trying to inbound the ball to run out the clock.
The league said that no-call was also incorrect that that its basketball operations office is reviewing the play, specifically the contact.
The NBA could administer a flagrant foul point, suspend or fine Green. If anything, a flagrant foul or a fine most likely will occur.
The play was a point of emphasis from Rockets general manager Daryl Morey on Twitter late Thursday night when a video of the contact was displayed of Green tackling Beasley to the ground.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
