James Harden's game-winning shot should not have counted, NBA says
HOUSTON -- The NBA says James Harden'sgame-winning shot in theHouston Rockets' Game 3, 97-96 win over the Golden State Warriorsshould 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 Livingstonstole a pass from Trevor Arizaon 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 had reviewed Green's end-of-game conduct -- in which, with one second left he took Houston's Michael Beasleyto the ground as the Rockets were trying to inbound the ball to run out the clock -- and had issued the Warriors forward a flagrant foul 1.
The league said that the officials' no-call on the play was incorrect and that its basketball operations office had reviewed the play, specifically the contact.
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 ESPN's Calvin Watkins and The Associated Press was used in this report.
