National Basketball Association

NBA says goaltending call was incorrect

Published Feb. 7, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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The NBA said a goaltending call in the final seconds of regulation in the Portland Trail Blazers' overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night was incorrect.

Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge was called for goaltending on Kevin Durant's attempted layup with six seconds left. The call tied the game at 103 and it went to overtime.

The Thunder went on to win 111-107. Fans at the Rose Garden booed the officials as they left the court, and debate over the call raged on the Internet and on local sports talk radio.

''With the benefit of slow motion replay following the game, it has been determined that Aldridge made contact with the ball just before the ball hit the backboard. Therefore, this should have been ruled a good block and goaltending was the incorrect call,'' according to a statement posted on NBA.com on Tuesday.

Referees cannot use instant replay on goaltending calls.

After the game, coach Nate McMillan said: ''I thought it was a good block. That game should have been over.''

Aldridge, who finished with a season-best 39 points, also maintained the block was clean.

''The ref who called it was the furthest one from the basket, so that's pretty interesting,'' he said.

Durant led the Thunder with 33 points.

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