Afterward, Ginobili insisted that the inbounds play non-call did not decide the game.
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The inbounds play began a frenzied final 13.5 seconds in the Thunder’s 98-97 victory over San Antonio on Monday in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.
While many will focus on the inbound no-call (how does the official miss that?), the Spurs still had a great look.
Associated Press photographer Eric Gay captured the foul on Aldridge just before he grabbed the ball and attempted the shot.
The Spurs’ demanded an offensive foul, but there was no call and Waiters tossed the ball in the centre of the court to Durant who lost it.
National Basketball Association referees admitted Tuesday that the officials on the floor missed a foul call late in a Western Conference playoff game on an inbounds play that they had never seen before Monday night. It’s a play that we have never seen before, ever, but we feel we should have had an offensive foul on Waiters.
With only seconds remaining in San Antonio, the Spurs forced a turnover and Patty Mills had the chance to win the game but his shot missed the ring.
It’s safe to say the report for Monday night’s Oklahoma City Thunder-San Antonio Spurs game will be voluminous. The league announced that the review determined that Ibaka “grabs and holds Aldridge’s jersey and affects his shot attempt”. Late in the game the Thunder had the ball up 1 with 13.8 seconds left. In his 19 minutes off the bench, backup center Enes Kanter contributed 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
“Our organization offensively was really poor”, Popovich said.
Said the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili about getting elbowed by Dion Waiters: “I don’t know what it is, to tell you the truth, what type of violation it is-It’s got to be something”.
We’ve got another busy night tonight as the Heat open up Game 1 of the second round in Toronto, and the Blazers try to steal Game 2 in Golden State.
Long before the “no-call” on Waiters, the Spurs, outside of Aldridge seemed to have left their offense back in game one.
Russell Westbrook had 29 points and 10 assists, while Kevin Durant added 28 points to even the series at one game apiece.
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Game three of the series heads to Oklahoma City Friday.
