CLEVELAND, Ohio — NBA history should not have been made Monday night.
At least that’s what the NBA said after a video review of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 145-134 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls.
According to the NBA’s Last Two Minutes Report – the league’s assessment of official events that took place in the last two minutes of games played at any point in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter (and overtime, if applicable) at or within of three points) — there were two incorrect calls. Both in favor of Cleveland.
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Most notable and controversial was Mitchell’s record-breaking putback — a notable layup from a missed free throw that earned him a franchise-record 58 points and sent the game OT.
With 4.6 seconds left and the Cavs two points behind, Mitchell intentionally missed his second freebie, darting down the lane, collecting his own rebound in the air and flipping the basket.
A Tuesday afternoon league review of that game showed Mitchell stepping over the level of the free-throw line before the ball touched the basket — a violation of NBA rules.
Mitchell should have been called out with a spur injury, negating the basket, holding the Cavs back by two and taking Mitchell to 56 points — one of his career high and Cleveland’s single-game record previously shared by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
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Because the three-man refereeing crew – Tony Brothers, JB DeRosa and Suyash Mehta – allowed the game to continue in real time without a whistle, Mitchell’s magic moment counted and the game went into overtime, where Mitchell scored another 13 points, bringing his total to 71.
He became just the seventh player in NBA history to surpass 70 points in a game — and the first since Phoenix Suns swingman Devin Booker on March 24, 2017. Mitchell’s 71 points ties with Elgin Baylor and David Robinson on the eighth-highest finish overall in a single game in NBA history. That’s the most points scored in the NBA this season. Mitchell’s previous high in the regular season was 46 and equaled that number three times with the Jazz. He counted 57 in the bubble.
According to the NBA, none of this should have happened.
The only other false call that appeared in the Last Two Minutes report came just before. With Cleveland down 128-125 and with just over 10 seconds to go, Mitchell swerved to the right of the lane and aimed to center Jarrett Allen under the hoop. The sequence ended with Allen’s jump-hook in the alley that cut Chicago’s lead to one point.
Only Allen should have been called to a journey.
The league said he lifted and replanted his pivot foot before releasing the ball. Had this play been decided correctly, the Bulls would have had possession by three points.
The Last Two Minute Report evaluates all calls and notable non-calls. As per the league’s definition, notable non-calls are generally defined as essential games directly related to the outcome of possession. Similar to instant replay standards, there must be clear and conclusive video evidence to determine that a play has been misdirected. In this case, both misses are qualified under these parameters.
Nothing changes in the official record book. Can’t rewrite history. The Cavs still won. Mitchell was still joining the 70 point club. And he still became the Cavaliers’ singles game record holder by passing James and Irving.
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