ON Monday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after the thrilling conclusion of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 109-108 win over the Golden State Warriors in an instant Christmas Day classic, the NBA announced in its Last Two Minutes report breakdown of Sunday’s NBA Finals rematch that the vanquished visitors wound up on the short end of a potentially pivotal call in the closing seconds.

    According to the NBA’s post-mortem review, Cavaliers defender Richard Jefferson should have been whistled for a personal foul against Warriors forward Kevin Durant for making “foot to foot contact” that affected Durant’s “speed, quickness, balance and rhythm” with 3.1 seconds left and Golden State trailing by one.

    As the play unfolded live, it was clear that Durant stumbled on the catch as he turned to dribble, leaving him heading to the deck and heaving a prayer toward the rim that went unanswered. It wasn’t clear in the moment whether Durant stumbled on his own or had some help; after the game, Durant claimed the latter.

    “I was trying to make a move, and I fell,” he told reporters. “And I didn’t fall on my own.”

    Jefferson took an opposing view after helping his team seal a hardfought and emotional win.

    “We all think we’re fouled on every play in every single game,” said the 36-year-old swingman, who scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter and threw down a pair of monster dunks on Durant and Klay Thompson, after the game.

    Jefferson did not appreciate the NBA’s Monday afternoon mea culpa.

    “There’s a lot of things I could say. I’m on the positive end of it this time, so there’s no need to make a comment about it,” Jefferson told the Beacon Journal.

    Jefferson joins a long list of those opposed to the continued publication of the reports, including superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and the union that represents NBA officials. Despite the displeasure with the day-late debriefs, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver continues to believe the reports serve a valuable role in increasing transparency and fans’ trust in the overall quality of NBA officiating.(SD-Agencies)