Blake Griffin's game-winning play against the 76ers should not have counted, says NBA
Thursday 25 October 2018 13:51, UK
Blake Griffin had the best game of his career on Tuesday night, punctuating his first career 50-point effort with a game-winning three-point play with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to beat the visiting 76ers.
However, the deciding play should not have counted, according to the league.
The NBA's two-minute officiating report says Griffin's ball fake on Sixers defenders Amir Johnson and Robert Covington and strong move to the basket both should have been violations.
After 76ers shooting guard JJ Redick gave Philadelphia a 132-130 lead on a four-point play with 5.6 seconds left in overtime, Griffin took the inbounds pass, ball-faked the two 76ers defenders, drove the lane and made a layup while getting fouled by Covington. Griffin hit the free throw to give Detroit the one-point win.
According to the NBA's officiating report, Griffin not only lifted his pivot foot and travelled before dribbling, but he also extended his arm into Covington to create space for the winning shot. Neither was whistled against Griffin, and the free throw from Covington's foul proved to be the difference in the 133-132 Pistons victory.
Griffin finished with the most points scored by a Pistons player since Richard Hamilton notched 51 against the New York Knicks on December 27, 2006.
He also became the sixth player in franchise history ever to score 50, and notched the NBA's first individual 50-point game of the 2018-19 season.
