The NBA has officially confirmed a critical officiating error in the final minutes of Thursday night’s matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
In their 118-111 victory over the Warriors, the Cavaliers were the beneficiaries of a missed call that could have altered the outcome of a tightly contested game. According to the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, Warriors forward Draymond Green should have been whistled for a three-second violation with 1:52 remaining.
At that moment, Cleveland held a 110-105 lead. As Brandin Podziemski drove toward the basket, Green remained stationed in the paint for an extended period without exiting. When Podziemski kicked the ball out to Gui Santos beyond the three-point line, Green failed to vacate the restricted area before Podziemski attacked the rim again. The non-call allowed the Warriors to stay within striking distance during a crucial late-game stretch.
The Warriors had briefly taken a 103-100 lead with under five minutes to play after trailing by as many as 14 points earlier. However, the missed violation proved costly as Cleveland was able to close out the contest.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Max Strus chipped in 24 points, while James Harden added 19 points and five assists. Center Jarrett Allen dominated the boards with 13 rebounds to go with his 16 points.
For the Warriors, who played without injured star Steph Curry (expected to return Sunday after missing 27 games), Brandin Podziemski and Gui Santos combined for 50 points. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 16 points and seven rebounds in his return from a one-game absence.
With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 48-29 and remain firmly in the top four in the Eastern Conference. Golden State fell to 36-41, sitting at No. 10 in the Western Conference and have now lost three consecutive games.
While the Cavaliers ultimately secured the victory on the floor, the NBA’s admission highlights yet another high-stakes officiating moment in a competitive NBA season.