It likely won't make Warrior fans feel any better now, but the NBA fessed up to two missed calls in the final two minutes of the Christmas Day game in Cleveland. Both went against Golden State.
In the league's last two minute report, released on Monday afternoon, they ruled that Richard Jefferson fouled Kevin Durant on the final play and LeBron James should've been called for a technical for hanging on the rim a few possessions earlier.
Golden State trailed 109-108 with 3.4 seconds left. Durant received the inbound, readied for his move, but as he did, it appeared Jefferson stepped on his right foot, causing Durant to go tumbling as the clock ran out.
"I fell," Durant said postgame. "And I didn't fall on my own."
With 1:41 left, LeBron cut through the lane for an and-1 dunk (correctly ruled a foul on Draymond Green, according to the report). After the dunk, LeBron swung on the rim for more than a second, enjoying the powerful jam.
The league said LeBron should've been ruled for a technical and the Warriors given a free throw attempt.
Either call could've changed the complexion of Golden State's 1-point loss. But the after-the-fact admission means nothing. The league just does it for transparency purposes. Earlier this season, they admitted missing a foul call on Green while guarding Anthony Davis in the final seconds of a Golden State win in New Orleans.
