As two of the best teams in the Western Conference, it was natural the Memphis-Houston game last night would come down to the final two possessions. Marc Gasol ended as the hero after his baseline jumper fell through the net with 0.1 seconds remaining and a tip attempt at the end by Houston didn’t happen. But we’re already looking forward to the referee review on the end of the game because James Harden was pretty obviously fouled on the possession before.
Gasol squared up against Terrence Jones after chasing down an awful inbounds from Jeff Green. He took two dribbles to his right and hit a jumper off one leg. Jones moved in unison with Gasol and contested the shot as well as anyone could in that situation. It didn’t matter.
The play before Gasol’s heroics was just as important in the end result, though, and we’re all waiting for the NBA’s report after James Harden appeared to be clipped across the arm by Zach Randolph during his drive in the lane, which is why the ball popped loose.
Harden was obviously upset after the game.
“I had the ball. I drove to the basket. A guy grabbed my arms, and nothing was called,” Harden said.
“I’m very surprised. At the end of the game, everybody’s watching the ball, everybody throughout the entire crowd. Everybody in the gym is watching the ball. Nothing I can say.”
Harden’s coach, Kevin McHale, was equally perturbed there was no call:
Randolph disagreed, and alluded to how Harden has the most free throws and free throw attempts in the NBA this season.
Z-Bo on the no-call drive: "I don’t remember. He gets so many fouls, Which one? He gets every one. That boy gets every call." Well, almost.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 5, 2015
We don’t think Harden’s modus operandi should be held against him. He’s just better at drawing contact than anyone else, and the Randolph’s reach with a little over five-seconds left is a prime example.
Some on Memphis’ side point to a possible Jones foul on Gasol’s game-winner as proof they didn’t steal the win, and all is fair in love and basketball; you just gotta overcome contact.
https://twitter.com/RickTrotter/status/573353736636141568
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