THE Oklahoma City Thunder stole homecourt advantage with a nail-biting win over the San Antonio Spurs, 98-97, but not after a wild, controversial finish.
The Thunder, up by just a point, had possession with 13.5 seconds left and on the inbound play, Dion Waiters appeared to shove Manu Ginobili before passing the ball to Kevin Durant.
Danny Green managed to swipe the ball, and the Spurs found an open Patty Mills, who missed the jumper, until Serge Ibaka held the rebound until the buzzer sounded. Watch the entire play here.
???? pic.twitter.com/BPApe3bJk3
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 3, 2016
From NBA on TNT
The Spurs and even TNT commentator Chris Webber were livid, saying Waiters should've been called for an offensive foul.
After the game, Ginobili was still confused about the non-call but had already accepted the decision in an interview with reporters.
Here's @ManuGinobili on that final inbounds of #Thunder-#Spurs: pic.twitter.com/7t0ULyTmX3
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 3, 2016
The NBA also released a transcript on the post-game interview between NBA crew chief Ken Mauer with pool reporter Mike Monroe of the Rivard Report, with Mauer acknowledging that they should have called an offensive foul on Waiters and awarded possession to the Spurs.
Pool Reporter Transcript from tonight's OKC/San Antonio game pic.twitter.com/uMXiRPdrqT
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) May 3, 2016
Waiters, though, remained defiant in an interview with Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman.
Dion Waiters sitting at his locker, scrolling through his phone postgame: "He stepped on the line anyway"
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 3, 2016
The series heads to Oklahoma City on May 6 (May 7, Manila time) for Game 3.
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