The usually composed coach Mike Brown stormed out of the locker room in disgust over a foul Crawford called on LeBron James with .1 of a second left that sent All-Star Danny Granger to the line for what turned out to be the game-winning free throw and cost the Cavaliers their first back-to-back loss this season.
“That last call, on the run, is the worst call that I have ever been a part of,” Brown said. “I cannot imagine another worse call than that. It was an awful call and for him to take away a basketball game from a team with .4 seconds on the clock is irresponsible.”
With 0.8 seconds left, the Pacers were up 95-93. The Cavs tried an alley-oop play to James off the inbounds pass. Granger stepped in front of James, who couldn’t catch the ball but drew the foul, and then Lebron made both free throws to tie it at 95.
After a timeout, the Pacers ran the same play. This time, with Granger cutting to the basket and James chasing, Granger got the call.
Mike Brows was so upset during the post game interview and repeatedly criticized the officials and possibly setting himself up for a league fine.
“I don’t care if I get fined. It is what it is. I saw the two plays; just a bad call determined the outcome of that game,” Brown said. “If they want to fine me for telling the truth, fine me. This isn’t me. I never do this.”
“The last call against me was not questionable at all,” James contended. “No contact was made. The pass was short. You couldn’t go to the rim. I was able to get a hand on it.”