The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a dramatic win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, and like any game that comes down to the wire, this one had its fair share of controversy. But according to the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, the officials got the two most debated calls of the night right - even if they left plenty of fans and analysts scratching their heads.
Let’s start with the no-call on James Harden’s potential game-tying three with 33 seconds left. It looked like Tim Hardaway Jr. might’ve slid into Harden’s landing space - the kind of play that usually draws a whistle, especially with the game on the line. But the officials kept the whistle tucked, and the league backed them up.
The league's explanation? Harden “abnormally extends his leg as he returns to the floor to create the marginal lower body contact.”
In other words, they saw Harden initiating the contact by kicking out - a move that’s been under the microscope for years now. It’s a judgment call, no doubt, and in real time, it’s a tough one to parse.
Harden’s known for that leg extension, and while Hardaway did close hard, the league determined the contact wasn’t enough to warrant a foul.
Then came the play that sealed it. With under a second left, Donovan Mitchell drove into the lane and got a shot up over Jamal Murray.
The whistle blew, Mitchell went to the line, and he buried both free throws to give Cleveland the win. Denver fans were quick to question the call, but the NBA stood firm: “Murray is late to the spot and turns into Mitchell, initiating illegal body contact.”
From the league’s perspective, Murray didn’t just arrive late - he turned into Mitchell, creating contact that disrupted the shot. Again, it’s one of those bang-bang plays where the timing and angle matter immensely. And in this case, the league says the refs nailed it.
However, the report did flag one missed call in the final two minutes. On a late Nikola Jokic turnover, Jaylon Tyson was in the lane just a bit too long.
The NBA says he should’ve been called for a three-second violation. Watching the replay, it’s hard to argue - Tyson was clearly camped out in the paint, and someone even shouted it out on the floor.
But the whistle never came, and the possession ended with a turnover anyway, so the impact was minimal.
Bottom line: in a game loaded with playoff-level intensity, the officials were put under the microscope - and according to the league, they passed the test. Not every fan will agree, especially in a game this tight, but the Last Two Minute Report gives us a rare peek behind the curtain. And for now, the Cavs walk away with a win, while the Nuggets are left wondering what might’ve been.