Indiana Pacers forward Myles Turner said Monday night that he couldn’t wait to read the NBA’s Last Two Minute report after being on the wrong end of a controversial foul call in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second-round series against the New York Knicks.
Turner isn’t going to like what he reads, as the report released Tuesday backs up the call that he was guilty of the illegal screen with 12.7 seconds left in Indiana’s 121-117 loss.
The Pacers trailed by one and were looking for a go-ahead shot when the call was made. Turner made contact with New York’s Donte DiVincenzo to earn the foul and an on-site review agreed with the call.
Now the report does too, saying, “Turner turns into DiVincenzo’s path and does not give him time and distance to change direction prior to the illegal contact.”
Another critical call in the final minute involving Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith was judged by the NBA to be the wrong decision.
The score was tied at 115 with 52.1 seconds left when Nesmith was called for a kicked ball violation on a play in which Indiana stole the ball.
Instead, the Knicks kept possession and DiVincenzo knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 40.4 seconds left and New York never trailed again.
Crew chief Zach Zarba said after the game that the kicked ball call was wrong and the play was not reviewable.
“Postgame review did show that it hit the defender’s hand, which would be legal,” Zarba said.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in New York.
–Field Level Media
