The NBA has released its Last Two Minute Report for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and the league is standing by the referees' decision to review and overturn a charging call on Kevin Durant late in the game.
The call came with 36.4 seconds left in the game and gave KD two free throws instead, which tied the game.
"The crew was not reasonably certain whether James (CLE) was in the restricted area after an offensive foul was called against Durant (GSW)," the report says. "Upon replay review, it was confirmed that James was outside the restricted area. The referees also reviewed whether James was in a legal guarding position, which is an additional reviewable matter for this replay trigger. Replay showed that James was not in a legal guarding position because he was turning his body and moving into Durant when contact occurred. Thus the initial call on the floor was overturned and James was assessed a blocking foul."
Refs were only able to review whether LBJ was in legal guarding position because they were initially unsure if he was in the restricted area (he wasn't).
Players and fans alike expressed their disagreement with the reversal after the game.
The report does say that with 12 seconds left, a foul should have been called on Draymond Green for grabbing Lebron James' arm and affecting his freedom of motion.
The non-call on a lane violation by Green with 4.7 seconds left was deemed incidental or immaterial.
To see the entire Last Two Minute Report from the league, click here.
