BOSTON — Jaylen Brown’s fury was justified. One day after a controversial no-call in the final minute cost the Boston Celtics a potential victory, the NBA officially backed the star’s complaint, confirming in its Last Two Minute Report that Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George should have been whistled for a foul on the pivotal play.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George during first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Play That Changed the Game
With 50 seconds left and the game tied at 101-101, Brown drove to the basket. As he did, Jazz guard Keyonte George slipped and fell directly into Brown’s path, causing the Celtics star to trip, lose the ball, and ultimately lose possession. The Jazz capitalized immediately, scoring a go-ahead layup on the other end.
After the game, crew chief Kevin Scott defended the no-call, stating the officials believed George slipped before any contact occurred. A furious Brown lambasted the decision, calling it “unacceptable” and stating it “cost us the game.”
The League’s Official Stance
The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, released Tuesday, delivered a clear verdict: “George (UTA) slides into Brown’s (BOS) path and initiates contact that affects his ability to maintain possession of the ball.” The report concluded a defensive foul should have been called on George.
Had the correct call been made, Brown, who scored a game-high 36 points, would have been sent to the free-throw line with a chance to give the Celtics a three-point lead with under a minute to play.
A Costly Error in a Promising Season
The league’s admission is cold comfort for a Celtics team that fell to 3-5 with the 105-103 loss. The error overshadowed a spectacular late-game rally led by Brown, who scored eight points in the final three minutes to erase a 12-point deficit, only to be undone by a moment of official fallibility.
While the NBA’s transparency confirms what Celtics fans and Jaylen Brown already knew, it doesn’t change the standings. The admission turns a tough loss into an even more frustrating “what-if,” as a single, acknowledged mistake from the officiating crew proves just how thin the margin for error can be in the NBA.