NBA Releases Last Two Minute Report for Cavs-Pacers Game 5

Published by

Brad Sullivan

8 years ago

The final minute of the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ dramatic Game 5 victory over the Indiana Pacers had plenty of twists and turns, with each team having the opportunity to win the game. In that period of time, two controversial calls were made by the game’s officials, with each team being the beneficiary.

The Last Two Minute Report, in short, looks at key plays in close games in the final two minutes of action. With 27.6 seconds remaining, LeBron James was called for deflecting the ball out of bounds, when in reality, it was the Pacers’ Thaddeus Young that deflected the ball out of bounds first.

Then, with the game tied at 95-apiece, the Pacers’ Victor Oladipo had the opportunity to try and score in the closing seconds. James blocked the shot and called timeout before then hitting the game-winning shot at the buzzer. However, upon further review after the game, it was deemed that Oladpio’s layup hit the backboard before James blocked the shot, which was essentially a goaltend.

The win gave the Cavaliers a 3-2 lead in the tight series and affords them the opportunity to clinch the series in Indianapolis on Friday night. If they fail to do so, Game 7 is set for Sunday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

Brad Sullivan

Brad Sullivan is a lead writer for Cavaliers Nation. He has spent much of life in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and has remained a Cavalier fan from their 1970 beginnings through the return of LeBron James. While that fandom was sorely tested during the Reign of Error known simply by one word, Stepien, that overall historical perspective will be part of his writing for Cavaliers Nation in the months ahead.