NBA says key call was missed late in Heat-Warriors game

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant (35) scores against the Miami Heat during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

MIAMI — Golden State’s Kevin Durant should have been called for a discontinued dribble on the Warriors’ final possession of what became their 120-118 win over the Miami Heat, the NBA said Monday in a report detailing all calls made in the last 2 minutes of the game.

Golden State made a pair of free throws on that possession, the final points of the game.

The league, in its Last Two Minute Report that is released after close games, said it reviewed multiple video angles to determine that Durant’s dribble was not interrupted by the ball making inadvertent contact with the foot or shin of Heat defender Justise Winslow and “a discontinued dribble should have been called on Durant.”

Also, the league opted not to fine Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for his postgame comments about the officiating — which were prefaced by Spoelstra beginning his remarks with “Look, NBA, do not fine me. I’m allowed to say this.”

Spoelstra also said multiple times in his postgame news conference that he was not blaming referees for the loss.

Durant was being defended by Winslow with about 10 seconds left in a tie game, dribbling as Golden State’s DeMarcus Cousins came to set a pick, the whole play unfolding not far from referee Kevin Cutler. Durant lost control of the ball and Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn — standing just a couple feet from referee Jason Goldenberg — was among those immediately lobbying for a violation to be called.

Goldenberg signaled that Durant’s dribble was deflected by Winslow, which replays showed was not the case. The play continued, Durant missed a 3-point try, and Cousins got the rebound, was fouled and made two free throws with 5.4 seconds remaining in what became the final points of the game.

“It’s a double-dribble. Everybody can see it,” Spoelstra said after the game. “Those are tough calls to make but everybody saw it. It’s right there in front of everybody. That should be a violation and you can’t miss those calls. But we had our chances. Like I said, it was back and forth. The officials — so let’s be clear about it, so I do not get fined — that’s not why we lost.”

Miami still had a chance to win, but Dion Waiters’ 3-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired. The loss knocked Miami, which was playing at Denver on Monday night, out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Warriors took 26 free throws to Miami’s eight, which also irked Spoelstra.

“You hate to see 26-8 when our guys are going aggressively,” he said.

The league’s review included study of 26 different events that went on in the last 2 minutes, and the league said the 25 others were all handled correctly.