NBA admits it missed crucial decision in Celtics-Warriors clash

Without Kristaps Porzingis or Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors made Wednesday night's highly anticipated rematch in the 2022 NBA Finals – or as others called it, the revenge game against Jayson Tatum – a nail-biting game.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr predictably received a torrent of long-awaited boos, more than two months after USA Basketball ended its Olympic run and Tatum recorded two bench appearances. But Kerr's aggressive defensive game plan surprised Boston, including Tatum, who scored just eight points with four turnovers by halftime, and left the Celtics to readjust in the second half.

Tatum finished the game with a 32-point lead as Boston put aside its uncharacteristic 16 points in the second quarter to take a 41-point lead over the Warriors in the third frame. Still, it wasn't enough for a win, as Golden State capitalized on Boston's early mistakes – missed assignments, allowing offensive rebounds and offensive execution – and rewarded the Warriors with their 118-112 victory over the Celtics. However, the NBA discovered in hindsight that a major mistake was missed.

Warriors center Kevon Looney committed a shooting foul on Tatum with 1:09 left in the contest, according to the NBA's Last Two Minute Report released Thursday. Tatum, frustrated after the 16-foot jumper, clapped the hands of the nearest referee as Boston missed a chance to cash in on two free throw attempts at Golden State's (then-108-104) practice.

Just moments later and on the next possession, the missed decision came back to haunt the Celtics.

Golden State's Buddy Hield caught Tatum struggling defensively and took advantage of the break, drilling a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 111-104 lead with 47 seconds left. At that point, the Celtics had no choice but to swallow the hard pill that was their first home loss of the season.

“Any time two good teams play together, it all comes down to the details in the end, and I think they performed a little better than we did,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game, according to NBC Sports Boston. “I thought our execution was better (in the second half). Our spacing was better, we found reads quicker and we were just as physical on offense as we were on defense. … We allowed three offensive rebounds and missed Buddy Hield on an open three-pointer and just the little details in the open floor.”

Tatum and Kerr will meet again on January 20th in Golden State.