In a dramatic finish during the final moments of the Golden State Warriors’ Play-in Tournament victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, referees failed to make several crucial calls, as highlighted in the NBA's Last Two Minute Report released on Wednesday. The Warriors triumphed with a score of 121-116, securing their place in the playoffs where they will face the Houston Rockets in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies still have a chance to clinch a postseason spot by defeating the Dallas Mavericks at home this Friday.
The sting of Tuesday night’s loss is likely to linger for Grizzlies fans, especially after the league's report detailed a series of officiating mistakes during the closing minutes of the game. Among the most significant errors was a failure to call a foul on Golden State’s Draymond Green, who should have been ejected for a sixth foul with 1:29 left on the clock. The NBA stated that Green made "illegal contact" with Memphis’ Scotty Pippen Jr., but officials did not blow the whistle at that moment.
Ironically, Green was eventually ejected about 30 seconds later, finishing the game on the sidelines. The play where Green fouled Pippen culminated in a basket by Memphis, but according to the report, the points should not have counted. Zach Edey scored after tipping in Pippen’s shot, which was deemed a violation due to Edey interfering with the ball while it was in the "imaginary cylinder above the rim." The referees should have called offensive goaltending on Edey.
As the game progressed, with Memphis trailing by four, a controversial call occurred when Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski attempted to block Pippen’s shot. Despite Podziemski making contact with the ball, the referees awarded a foul, sending Pippen to the free-throw line where he converted one of the two attempts. The NBA later described the contact as “incidental,” raising further questions about the officiating in critical moments.
With only one point separating the teams and less than 10 seconds remaining, a pivotal moment unfolded when Ja Morant poked the ball out of bounds while Steph Curry was dribbling past him. The referees awarded possession to the Warriors, but the report indicated that the last touch was by Curry, meaning Memphis should have regained control with seven seconds left on the clock.
As the Grizzlies prepare for their upcoming game against the Mavericks, they may do so with a hobbled superstar. Morant injured his ankle during the third quarter of the game against the Warriors. While he managed to finish the game, a victory on Tuesday would have provided him with additional time to recuperate before facing Dallas, who recently secured a decisive 120-106 win against the Sacramento Kings, effectively ending their playoff hopes.
Looking ahead, the Warriors are set to clash with the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, beginning Sunday night in Houston. The outcome of the Grizzlies’ upcoming game will determine their playoff fate, making it a must-watch for fans and analysts alike.
