NBA Admits Fault in No-Call at End of Thunder Game

Originally Published: Apr 7, 2010 5:14 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NEW YORK – On the final play of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 140-139 overtime loss to Utah Tuesday, Kevin Durant attempted a potential game-winning 3-pointer that was altered by the Jazz’s C.J. Miles.

Miles was credited with a block, but Durant immediately turned to officials and pleaded for a foul call. Thunder coach Scott Brooks rushed to midcourt to plead his case, but the referee did not reverse the call.

On Wednesday, the NBA admitted that Durant and Brooks were right.

Joel Litvin, the NBA President of League and Basketball Operations, issued a statement saying that Miles committed a foul and it should have been called.

"On the final play of last night’s Oklahoma City-Utah game, the officials missed a foul committed by the Jazz’s C.J. Miles on the Thunder’s Kevin Durant during a 3-point shot attempt,” Litvin’s statement said.

If the foul had been called, Durant would have had three free-throw attempts to try and win the game for Oklahoma City. Durant was a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe in the game, meaning his additional shots likely would have changed the outcome of the game.

The controversial ending could have a dramatic impact on the Western Conference playoff race. The Jazz jumped into sole possession of second place in the conference, while the Thunder dropped into a tie for sixth and just one game ahead of No. 8 seeded Portland.