The NBA issued a statement on Tuesday saying officials at Monday's playoff game between Orlando and Detroit followed proper procedure in regards to a clock malfunction at the end of the third quarter.
Chauncey Billups scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half, including a controversial three-pointer in the final second of the third quarter, as the Pistons beat the Magic, 100-93, in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Orlando's Rashard Lewis hit two free throws with 5.1 seconds left in the third to give Orlando a 76-75 edge, but then Billups nailed a three-pointer seemingly at the buzzer. However, the clock malfunctioned and was stuck with 4.8 seconds left, causing officials to huddle and make a ruling. The referees were unable to watch a replay because video review, by rule, isn't available to determine when a play started. Officials finally ruled Billups' shot was successful with 0.5 seconds left.
However, a real-time video replay from broadcast partner TNT showed Billups' shot came after 5.1 seconds had expired.
As with all NBA playoff games, the timekeeper who worked Monday's game was from a "neutral" city. However, the league said the stoppage resulted from a technical malfunction in the arena timing system.
"After reviewing the video of last night's Pistons-Magic game, we determined that the play that concluded with Chauncey Billups' three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter took approximately 5.7 seconds," said Joel Litvin, NBA President of Basketball Operations. "Because there were only 5.1 seconds remaining in the quarter when the play began, the shot would not have counted had the clock continued to run."
Litvin said the league officials were correct to estimate the elapsed time and use their judgment if the shot was taken in time.
"Under NBA rules, the referees did not have the option of using instant replay and a timing device to determine exactly how much time had elapsed, nor do the rules allow for a replay after a clock malfunction is discovered," Litvin added. "The NBA Competition Committee was scheduled to discuss the possible expanded use of instant replay at its meeting at the end of the month and we will raise, for the Committee's consideration, the use of replay in situations like this."
