Thabo Sefolosha was not fouled by Nikola Jokic, only a case of incidental contact, in the final minute of the Hawks victory over the Nuggets Friday night, according to the NBA’s review of the final two minutes of the game.
The league released its Last Two Minutes report on Saturday and concluded that a loose ball foul should not have been called on Jokic with 42.8 seconds remaining. Jokic fouled out on the play and Nuggets coach Mike Malone was assessed a technical foul for arguing the call.
The Hawks won, 109-108, by scoring the final the game’s final nine points all from the free-throw line. Dennis Schroder made the free throw following the Malone technical and Sefolosha made his two free throws following the foul as part of the decisive run.
The foul was an incorrect call, according to the report. It stated: “Jokic (DEN) and Sefolosha (ATL) engage on the rebound. The contact is incidental and does not affect either player’s ability to retrieve the rebound.”
The report also found one other incorrect call. This one went against the Hawks. Malcolm Delaney should not have been called for a foul against Emmanuel Mudiay with 1:43 remaining. Mudiay made two free throws to give the Nuggets their final points and a 108-100 lead.
According to the report, “Mudiay (DEN) trips, but not as a result of any contact by Delaney (ATL) that affects his SQBR (speed, quickness, balance, rhythm).
The report also concluded that there was a correct non-call on Wilson Chandler’s drive to the basket with three seconds remaining, noting that Paul Millsap maintained legal guarding position.
The NBA issues a report on all games that are within five points at the two-minute mark.
