The Celtics escaped New Orleans with a 118-116 win over the Pelicans on Friday night thanks to Jayson Tatum’s heroics. However, the visitors were playing at a bit of a disadvantage late thanks to a crucial missed call that they had to overcome in the final 76 seconds of regulation .
Kristaps Porzingis made a strong backcut to the hoop with 1:16 remaining in a 114-114 game, leading to an open rim run for the big man after a terrific dish from Jayson Tatum. Javonte Green tried to recover defensively and ended up fouling Porzingis on the play. However, it was evident that Green was guilty of goaltending Porzingis’ dunk attempt on the play as he deflected the ball through the cylinder while contested the play.
The Celtics bench went berserk on the play as Porzingis should have been awarded a chance at a three-point play. Instead, he was just given two free throws despite the pleas from the Boston bench. The Celtics still had a challenge to use on the play but Joe Mazzulla explained why the team didn’t attempt to reverse the call.
“They can only review it if they call [goaltending],” Mazzulla told reporters in New Orleans via NBC Sports Boston. “To me, it just makes sense to call it since you can get it right, especially under two minutes. When you know a play is reviewable, it makes sense to call it that way but they didn’t.”
Porzingis went on to miss two free throws after the referees huddled but declined to change the call to goaltending.
“I didn’t know what happened honestly,” Porzingis told reporters. “I just saw the whole bench react. I thought it probably was going in but I still haven’t seen play. Probably, the refs missed something there by the (bench’s) reaction. Of course I smoked both free throws. Unbelievable.”
Instead of holding a two-point lead after the play, the Pelicans had a chance to take the lead in a 114-114 game. Boston’s defense held up strong on the ensuing possession, forcing a 24-second violation. From there, Jaylen Brown and Tatum hit clutch shots to secure the win for Boston, giving them their second straight win.
“JT, he was due for a nice game-winner,” Porzingis told reporters in New Orleans. “Smooth, looked good, and he did it. He brought us home.”
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