The NBA said Friday that the last-second foul committed by Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart during Thursday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls was the correct call.
Smart got whistled for a shooting foul with 0.9 seconds remaining though he appeared to make minimal contact with Jimmy Butler’s right elbow in a one-point game. Butler made both free throws as the Bulls escaped with a 104-103 triumph at the United Center.
In the league’s daily Last 2 Minute report, it wrote that the foul whistled by referee Zach Zarba was the correct call. In the comment about the play, the league noted, “Smart (BOS) makes contact with Butler’s (CHI) arm that affects his jump shot attempt. Any contact to a shooter’s hand, arm, or wrist prior to the release of the shot is considered a foul.”
In the 20 plays examined by the league over the final two minutes of Thurday’s game, all were deemed to be the correct call (or non-call).
Smart and the Celtics were adamant that he should not have been whistled in that situation, while Butler has steadfastly contended that contact was made and the foul was warranted.
During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take from All-Star weekend in New Orleans on Friday morning, Butler was playfully grilled on the foul and said, “[Smart] did foul me… I’m not saying it was a hard foul, but he did foul me.”
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