NBA says refs got it RIGHT by adding the 0.9 seconds to the clock in Heat-Celtics Game 6

The NBA has issued a pair of corrections to late officiating calls in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but took no issue with the refs’ decision to add 0.9 seconds to the clock in Miami – a move that proved crucial as the Celtics beat the Heat at the buzzer to force Monday’s Game 7 in Boston.

On Sunday, the league released its Last Two Minute report, which is a customary public-facing review of officials’ performances at the ends of games. The Game 6 report corrected two calls by the officiating crew of James Williams, Zach Zarba and Josh Tiven – both of which benefitted the Heat and not the Celtics. 

The NBA found that officials failed to catch a lane violation against the Heat’s Caleb Martin on a missed free throw by the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown with 1:01 remaining. Furthermore, officials neglected to call a foul against Miami’s Gabe Vincent on a missed layup by Boston’s Jayson Tatum, who should have been given two free throws with 33.5 seconds left in the game.

Most importantly, the NBA found that officials were right to give Boston a full 3 seconds on its final possession, which ultimately allowed for Boston’s game-winning tip-in.

‘… the foul occurred at 3.0 seconds and adjusted the clock accordingly,’ reads the league report.

Refs James Williams (left), Zach Zarba and Josh Tiven (right) were right to add time, NBA says

Horford was whistled for a foul on  Butler with 2.1 seconds left – but 0.9 seconds were added

The sequence unfolded in the waning moments of Game 3 with the Heat trailing 102-100.

Celtics center Al Horford was whistled for a foul on the Heat’s Jimmy Butler and the play was whistled dead with 2.1 seconds remaining.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the foul, giving officials the opportunity to confirm that Butler was, indeed, shooting a 3-pointer at the time of the foul, which occurred with 3.0 seconds remaining and not 2.1.

Butler went on to make all the free throws, giving Miami a 103-102 lead.

That 0.9-second difference proved crucial for Boston coming out of the timeout. The added time allowed inbounds passer Derrick White to tip-in a missed 3-point attempt by Boston’s Marcus Smart, giving the Celtics a 104-103 victory.

Many Heat fans took issue with the officials’ decision to add 0.9 seconds to the clock Saturday

Naturally, Heat fans disagree.

‘How did this get turned into 3 seconds?’ wrote on fan. ‘Foul occurs at 2.5, red blows whistle after. According to you, it’s when the whistle is blown, not when foul occurs. The Heat won this game.’

Other NBA fans argued that Butler got away with double dribble immediately before being fouled by Horford, but the league did not take issue with the officiating in that instance.

‘Added .9 for the double dribble,’ joked one fan.

Now the Celtics will try and make history by beating the Heat in Game 7 on Monday night in Boston.