Pacers claim LeBron block wasn’t legal
Missed goaltending call came seconds before Cavaliers star hit game-winning three-pointer
”I just tried to use my recovery speed and ... make a play on the ball.” LEBRON JAMES ON HIS CONTROVERSIAL BLOCK
The Indiana Pacers felt cheated — by LeBron James and the officials.
Moments before James beat them with a game-winning, step-back three-pointer at the buzzer, the Pacers were poised to take the lead in Game 5 on Victor Oladipo’s driving layup. However, James came from behind and blocked Oladipo’s shot, which appeared to hit the backboard before Cleveland’s star touched it — a goaltending violation.
Instead, there was no call and James then dropped his 28footer over Thaddeus Young to give Cleveland a 98-95 win and a 3-2 lead in this tight Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Pacers didn’t complain on the floor. But later in their locker room they were angry about the game-swinging play. Several of the Pacers shook their heads while watching replays.
“Of course, I thought it was goaltending,” Lance Stephenson said. “We should’ve got the ref’s attention. When you look at it on the replay, it’s clearly goaltending.”
Under NBA rules, goaltending is only reviewable if the call is made on the floor.
Oladipo thought he was fouled by James before the non-call.
“I got a step on him,” Oladipo said. “I felt like I even got grabbed on the way to the rim, tried to shoot a layup, it hit the backboard, then he blocked it. It was a goaltend. It’s hard to even speak on it. It just sucks, honestly. It really sucks. Even though we fought our way back, we tied the game up, that layup was huge.
“Give him credit where credit is due. The three was big-time. Definitely huge. But who’s to say they even run that play? We don’t know what happens. It’s unfortunate. It really sucks that they missed that.”
James smiled when asked to describe his block, which was reminiscent of the one he made on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
“I definitely thought it was a goaltend,” James said with a laugh. “Of course I didn’t think it was a goaltend. I try to make plays like that all the time and I mean he made a heck of a move, got me leaning right and he went left and I just tried to use my recovery speed and get back up there and make a play on the ball. And I was able to make a play.”
Even if goaltending was called, the Cavaliers would have gotten the ball in frontcourt, giving James a makable shot in the final seconds.
Said Pacers centre Myles Turner: “It’s clearly a goaltend, but that doesn’t change the fact that they made the game-winning shot.”
CURRY IS CLOSE: Stephen Curry returned to full practice with contact and could play for the defending champion Golden State Warriors as soon as Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday night against New Orleans.
Curry looked strong as he practised Thursday wearing a protective brace over his sprained left knee, which has sidelined him since the injury March 23 — the same day he returned from a six-game absence because of a hurt right ankle.
Coach Steve Kerr is calling Curry questionable for Saturday. That could change if the two-time NBA MVP still feels fine Friday.
“Steph practiced at 100 per cent, he did everything, he looked good,” Kerr said. “What we have to do is see how his body responds the rest of the day, put him through another practice tomorrow. I think he needs to string together two good days but it was very positive today.
“We’re excited. I know he’s very eager to play,” said Klay Thompson.
“He’s a competitor, so sitting out I know kills him. We can’t wait for him to get back whenever that is.”