NBA says Tim Duncan's block on James Harden was legal

San Antonio Spurs centerTim Duncan's block on Houston Rockets guard James Harden was legal, the NBA ruled in its daily "Last Two Minutes" report released Saturday.

In the closing seconds of the Rockets' 104-103 loss to the Spurs on Friday, Harden attempted a layup at the basket only to have it blocked by Duncan as the buzzer sounded.

Replays showed Duncan made contact with Harden's arm.

The league said Duncan "jumps vertically on Harden's layup attempt and cleanly blocks the shot. There is contact after the blocked shot, but because the shot is already blocked, the contact is incidental and deemed to have no impact on the shot attempt."

After the game, Harden said he didn't complete the shot.

Before the blocked shot, Duncan missed a layup with 35 seconds to play. On the next possession, Harden hit a 3-pointer with 28.9 seconds left to bring the Rockets to within one.

But after Manu Ginobili turned the ball over, it gave the Rockets a last-second shot with 6.1 seconds to play.

Harden drove to his left and attempted a layup with his left hand. Duncan reached out and blocked the shot, snagging the loose ball as the buzzer sounded.

"It was a good opportunity for me to get redemption at the end," Duncan said. "I had a layup to put it away and put us up six, and I missed that and then we went down the last play."

It's the second time in the past two months a referee's non-call has affected a game for the Rockets. TheMemphis Grizzlies'Zach Randolphblocked a shot of Harden's on March 4 at the buzzer in a Houston loss. The next day, league officials ruled Harden was fouled on the play.