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NBA: Refs messed up again at the end of a Spurs loss to the Thunder

Tim Duncan and the Spurs are facing elimination in their NBA playoff series against Oklahoma City.

Tim Duncan and the Spurs are facing elimination in their NBA playoff series against Oklahoma City.

(Ronald Cortes / Getty Images)
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For the second time in five playoff games between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, the NBA has admitted its officials messed up some key calls in the final two minutes. And both times, the result of the game was a Spurs loss.

On Wednesday, the league released its Last Two Minute Report for the Thunder’s 95-91 victory Tuesday night and indicated one foul was incorrectly called and another was missed during the final minute. Oklahoma City, which benefited from both miscues, leads the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

The first came with 54.7 seconds remaining and the score tied at 90. San Antonio’s Danny Green was called for a defensive foul after falling into Kevin Durant, who went on to make both of his free-throw attempts to put the Thunder ahead for good.

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But according to the league’s report, Green was actually tripped by Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, who extended “his leg into Green’s path, causing him to trip and fall into Durant.”

The NBA also said the officials missed an intentional foul by San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard on Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook with 8.7 seconds remaining and the Thunder clinging to a one-point lead. Westbrook went on to score on a three-point play to seal the victory for San Antonio.

Last week, the league said five fouls were missed during a chaotic final 13.5 seconds in Game 2 of the series. One would have sent San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge to the line with 2.6 seconds remaining in the 98-97 Oklahoma City victory.

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