Last 2-Minute Report: NBA Backs Up Questionable Calls in Warriors vs. Rockets Game
The Last 2-Minute Report (L2M) is a vital part of the NBA’s transparency efforts when it comes to officiating. The report, which is released after each game to review crucial calls made in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime, has become a key part of how the league evaluates the accuracy and consistency of its referees. The report helps address questions, calm fan outrage, and correct potential errors in real time, providing both players and coaches with clarity on controversial moments.
The Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets played a highly competitive and contentious game on December 13, 2024, which saw a dramatic ending filled with crucial calls that sparked intense discussion. After the game, the NBA released its L2M report, confirming that several decisions made in the final moments were correct, despite widespread debate.
Setting the Stage: A Nail-Biter
The game between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets was a back-and-forth contest with both teams jockeying for position in the Western Conference standings. The Warriors, led by star guard Stephen Curry, were looking to extend their winning streak, while the Rockets, with their young core of Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, aimed to build momentum and show they could compete with the league’s elite teams.
In the final two minutes of the game, with the Warriors holding a slim lead, several controversial plays and calls occurred, and the outcome of the game hung in the balance. Fans and analysts alike were quick to question some of the officiating decisions, leading to the expectation that the L2M report would provide clarity and perhaps some answers.
The Controversial Calls
The final two minutes were filled with tense moments that were scrutinized from all angles. Three specific calls stood out and became the focus of the L2M report: a questionable shooting foul on Curry, a potential goaltending violation against the Rockets, and a key out-of-bounds call that affected the Warriors’ possession.
- Curry’s Free Throws: The Shooting Foul Debate With just over a minute left on the clock, Curry drove to the basket for a layup attempt but was met by Rockets’ defender Tari Eason. Eason made contact with Curry as he went up for the shot, causing many observers to question whether the foul call was justified. Curry was sent to the free-throw line, where he made both attempts, giving the Warriors a two-possession lead. Critics of the call argued that Eason had maintained verticality, and that the foul was too ticky-tacky to warrant sending Curry to the line in such a crucial moment.
The L2M report confirmed that the foul call on Eason was correct, stating that there was indeed enough contact to disrupt Curry’s shooting motion. The report highlighted that Eason’s arms were not fully vertical and that there was clear contact to Curry’s arm as he was shooting, leading to the foul being assessed correctly. The decision to send Curry to the line was deemed appropriate given the circumstances of the play.
- Goaltending Call: The Rockets’ Disputed Play With just under 30 seconds remaining, the Rockets found themselves trailing by just two points and had a chance to tie or take the lead. Green drove to the basket and attempted a contested shot against Warriors’ big man Kevon Looney. The ball appeared to be on its way down when Looney blocked it, leading to a goaltending review that had the potential to tie the game. Rockets fans and analysts immediately called for a goaltending violation, arguing that Looney had interfered with the ball on its downward trajectory.
The L2M report explained that the play was reviewed by the referees and that there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that the ball had yet reached its apex or was on a downward trajectory. The ruling confirmed that Looney’s block was legal, as the ball had not yet started to descend at the moment of contact. This call helped preserve the Warriors’ lead, but the Rockets felt hard done by the decision, as it appeared close in real-time.
- Out-of-Bounds Call: The Final Possession In the final seconds of the game, the Rockets had one last chance to tie the game. With 8.2 seconds left, Green dribbled the ball to the top of the key and attempted to set up a play. As he went for a pass to a cutting Şengün, the ball appeared to graze off the hands of Curry before going out of bounds. The referees initially ruled that the ball went off Curry, giving possession to the Rockets with just 4.5 seconds remaining. However, after a quick review, the officials reversed the call, ruling that Curry had not touched the ball, and the possession was awarded to the Warriors.
The L2M report stood by the reversal, citing the clear and convincing video evidence that showed Curry did not touch the ball before it went out of bounds. The NBA explained that the review was thorough, and the correct decision was made to give the Warriors the ball, ultimately sealing their win. While the Rockets were disappointed by the outcome, the league confirmed that the process was fair, and the correct call had been made.
The NBA’s Transparency and Accountability
The NBA’s commitment to transparency is evident in the release of the Last 2-Minute Report. By explaining the reasoning behind specific officiating decisions, the league aims to enhance accountability and reduce ambiguity for fans, players, and coaches. While it is impossible to satisfy every fan or player who disagrees with a call, the L2M report provides an essential tool to understand why a particular ruling was made.
In this case, while the Warriors emerged victorious, the Rockets were understandably frustrated with some of the calls. In particular, the goaltending non-call and the out-of-bounds ruling seemed to be significant moments in the game. However, the NBA’s report backed up the officials’ decisions, providing a sense of closure and clarity for both teams and their respective fanbases.
