NBA L2M: Warriors vs. Magic

All the calls and non-calls, judged in hindsight.

The Golden State Warriors eked out a dramatic 104-99 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night, overcoming a double-digit deficit before blowing a double-digit lead of their own, and finally settling into a narrow victory.

But it wasn’t without a little bit of controversy. As they do for all close games (defined as being within three points at any moment in the final two minutes), the NBA released a Last 2 Minute Report for Golden State’s clutch victory. In the Last 2 Minute Report, the league combs through all the plays in the final two minutes, rewatches them from multiple angles, and decides which calls and non-calls were called (or non-called) correctly.

And the Warriors caught a little bit of a break. Draymond Green’s return to action was huge for the Dubs, and his defensive presence was felt all night long, especially against Orlando’s budding young star Paolo Banchero. But, according to the NBA, Green’s game-saving defense got a little bit of an assist from the folks in stripes.

The league flagged two improperly-officiated moments in the final two minutes, and both benefited Green in his pursuit of locking down Banchero. With 50.6 seconds remaining, Green fouled a driving Banchero, who hoisted a shot (which missed) as he felt the contact. The Magic insisted that it should have been a shooting foul, but the refs disagreed, and Orlando was given an inbounds rather than a pair of free throws. Upon further reflection, the NBA admitted that a shooting foul should have been called, saying:

Green (GSW) commits a take foul on Banchero (ORL) after his gather and during his shooting motion. Although the foul is correct, continuation should have been awarded.

Banchero got the ball on the inbounds, and went back to work against Green, maneuvering his way into the lane. After a pump fake, Banchero hoisted a tough fadeaway jumper with 44.4 seconds remaining, which he missed. Banchero complained that a foul should have been awarded, and the league agreed in hindsight, saying:

Green (GSW) is drawn into the air on the pump fake by Banchero (ORL) and he initiates illegal body contact that affects his shot attempt in the post.

The officiating may have benefitted the Warriors, but it likely didn’t impact the outcome. The Warriors led by five points at the time, so they were in the driver’s seat even if Banchero had been awarded the free throws. And while the non-call technically should have been called a foul, it was a fairly standard non-call for late in a game, when refs often give players a little bit more leeway.