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

The NBA made a few corrections to late on-call calls in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but did not object to the umpires’ decision to add 0.9 seconds to Miami’s clock — a move that proved crucial when the Celtics the Heat at the buzzer to force Game 7 in Boston on Monday.

On Sunday, the league released its Last Two Minute Report, a customary public assessment of officials’ performance at the end of games. The Game 6 report corrected two calls from James Williams’ crew on duty, Zach Zarba and Josh Tiven – both of which benefited the Heat and not the Celtics.

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

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

“…the foul occurred at 3.0 seconds and the clock was adjusted accordingly,” the league report reads.

Horford was called for a foul on Butler with 2.1 seconds remaining – but 0.9 seconds added

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

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

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the foul and gave umpires a chance to confirm that Butler did indeed shoot a 3-pointer at the time of the foul, which occurred with 3.0 seconds left and not 2.1.

Butler then made all free throws to give Miami a 103–102 lead.

That 0.9 second difference proved crucial for Boston coming out of timeout. Extra time allowed inbound passer Derrick White to tip a missed three-point attempt by Boston’s Marcus Smart to give the Celtics a 104–103 victory.

Many Heat fans disagreed with the umpires’ decision to add 0.9 seconds to the clock on Saturday

Naturally, Heat fans disagree.

“How did this convert in 3 seconds?” wrote on fan. ‘Foul occurs at 2.5, red blows whistle after. You think it’s when the whistle is blown, not when there’s a foul. The Heat won this game.’

Other NBA fans argued that Butler got away with a double dribble right before being fouled by Horford, but the league had no objection to the officiating in that case.

“Added .9 for the double dribble,” one fan joked.

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