Tuesday the Washington Wizards blew a 35-point lead and lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in one of the craziest comebacks in NBA history. However, according to the NBA’s last 2 minute report, officials made four incorrect calls including on a pivotal foul in the final seconds that would have nullified the Clippers comeback.
The Clippers completed their epic comeback by scoring seven points in the final nine seconds of the game. Clippers guard Luke Kennard hit a three to cut their deficit to three with 8.2 seconds. After a timeout, Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma was unable to inbound the basketball, resulting in a five-second violation.
The ensuing possession, Kennard made another three with 1.9 seconds to tie the game at 115-115. This time he was fouled by Wizards guard Bradley Beal in the process. Kennard made the free throw and the Clippers won 116-115.
Based on the league’s L2M report, the Wizards should have won the game if officiated correctly.
According to the L2M report, Beal’s foul should’ve been ruled a non-shooting foul. Beal fouled Kennard before an act of shooting (h/t Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints). Therefore, the game-tying three shouldn’t have counted and Kennard should have shot two free throws with the Clippers trailing 115-112 with 1.9 seconds remaining.
Furthermore, Kennard’s 35-foot three with 8.2 seconds remaining that cut the deficit to 115-112, shouldn’t have counted. That’s because officials missed a five-second violation on Clippers guard Justise Winslow before his inbound pass to Kennard.
Meanwhile with the Wizards up 111-105, officials missed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was fouled by Kennard on his missed layup attempt around 48 seconds remaining in the game. He should’ve been awarded two free throws. Instead the Clippers got the rebound and continued play.
The officials led by Sean Wright also missed a travel by Kyle Kuzma with about 30 seconds remaining with the Wizards up by six.
Through it all the missed calls won’t change the outcome of the game. It also doesn’t erase the fact the Wizards yielded 40 points in the third quarter and ultimately made mistakes of their own that allowed the Clippers back in the game. The Wizards led by as many as 35 points!
Still there’s enough in the report to draw the ire of the Wizards. Yes, they crumbled down the stretch, but the officials should have made the correct calls. Just maybe the outcome is different. Regardless whether you blame the Wizards or the missed calls by the officials, the Clippers’ comeback should have never happened.
