The 76ers won Game 4 with an epic scoring performance by James Harden. But most of the postgame conversation was focused on shaky officiating.
James Harden saved the 76ers again in Game 4, coming up with 42 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and a game-winning 3-pointer from the corner with under 20 seconds left in overtime. It was a legendary performance from Harden — his second 40-point game of the series, making him the first 76er since Allen Iverson with multiple 40-point games in the same postseason and joining Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Jerry West as the only guards in NBA history with 10 or more 40-point games in the playoffs.
And yet, the most animated his coach Doc Rivers got in the postgame press conference was talking about a no-call on the possession before Harden's game-winner.
Worst calls from Game 4, 76ers-Celtics: 3. Jayson Tatum's push-off
The stage for Harden's game-winner was set by a Jayson Tatum 3-pointer just seconds before to put the Celtics up 115-113. But space for Tatum's attempt were created by what appeared to be a pretty clear offensive foul.
We'll have to wait and see what the league says in their official Last 2 Minute Report, but this seemed like an obviously incorrect no-call at the time and rewatching the video in slow motion only makes it seem worse.
But that wasn't the only questionable call we saw down the stretch of this overtime game.
Worst calls from Game 4, 76ers-Celtics: 2. Joel Embiid's charge
Just a few minutes before the Celtics and 76ers traded those crucial 3-pointers, Joel Embiid caught a pocket pass at the elbow from Harden, pump-faked to get Al Horford in the air and then drove for an And-1 layup with a blocking foul on Marcus Smart. However, the play was challenged by Joe Mazzulla and the referees overturned the call on the floor, instead giving Embiid a charge, wiping away the basket and handing possession to the Celtics.
You can't see the bottom half of Smart's body in that video but the play was succinctly described in NBA Reddit as: "one of the worst charging calls I've seen in ages. Smart's left foot is completely off the ground, he is sliding right and throws his body into Embiid as he eurosteps."
Because this call came within the final two minutes of the game, it will also be reviewed again and included in the NBA's Official Last 2 Minute Report. Given that they already reviewed this play on the court, it seems unlikely they would overrule themselves again and say that the original call was correct. But this sure looks to me like Smart dangerously sliding himself underneath Embiid and still in motion at the time of contact.
Worst calls from Game 4, 76ers-Celtics: 1. Jayson' Tatum's 180
With the game tied and just under four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Tatum got Tyrese Maxey on the switch and sized him up from the wing. He spun and drove baseline and as Embiid rotated over, Tatum spun again putting his back to Embiid and throwing up a wild, no-look, over-the-head 180 layup. And drew the foul.
This one will not be reviewed in the Last 2 Minute Report, but the official NBA referees' Twitter account did share video in real-time and clarify that the call was correct on Embiid because he was not jumping vertically.
I suppose you could also give the call because of Embiid's right hand on Tatum's hip. But I don't think it's nearly as clear-cut as they make it appear to be. Even the TV play-by-play announcer seemed surprised that Tatum drew the foul.
The most egregious officiating mistake still seemed to be Tatum's push-off on the penultimate possession and the universe preserved it's balance by giving Harden the game-winner just a few seconds later. Thank goodness ball don't lie, amirite?
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