It’s unclear whether or not the right call would have made a difference, but on Friday the NBA announced that its officials made the incorrect call on in the closing seconds of the Bulls 107-105 overtime win in Toronto on Wednesday.
With the Bulls ahead by two and 3.3 remaining, Toronto inbounded the ball to forward Amir Johnson, who was defended by Joakim Noah. As Johnson drove to his right, Noah fouled him as he begin to lose his balance and throw up a desperation shot.
The officials whistled Noah for the foul, but determined it to occur before Johnson went into his shooting motion, not giving him an opportunity to shoot free throws.
The Raptors would then inbound the ball again with one second remaining and Jose Calderon’s good look from three, back-rimmed.
“Officials called a foul on Chicago’s Joakim Noah as Toronto’s Amir Johnson gathered the ball while driving to the basket,” the NBA said in a statement. “The officials ruled the foul was on the floor but upon review at the league office, the video replay confirmed that the foul should have been called a shooting foul with Johnson receiving two free throws.”
Amir Johnson is a career 70.6 percent free throw shooter and is shooting 70.4 percent on the season.
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