BOSTON — After a largely one-sided series opener, Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals came down to the game's final minute.
After trailing by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks cut the deficit to five with 1:15 remaining, and after a stop, they had a golden opportunity on a fast break. As quickly as the opportunity came, it went away, as a Derrick White block on P.J. Washington denied Dallas' comeback bid, though the contact on the play quickly became a talking point.
Was Washington fouled on the game's most crucial swing play? Here's what happened and what's been said about the play in question.
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Derrick White block on P.J. Washington
With under a minute remaining in regulation, Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. blocked a Jayson Tatum layup, which led to a fast-break opportunity.
Dallas' Kyrie Irving led the break and fired a bounce pass to a streaking Washington, who had a half-step advantage on Boston's defense. White quickly closed in, catching up to cleanly execute a chase-down block on Washington, whose momentum took him well beyond the basket.
DERRICK WHITE 🚫 pic.twitter.com/K40AaqRCTk
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 10, 2024
In addition to White's contest, Washington felt pressure from Boston's Jaylen Brown, who may have been able to make a play on the ball had it not been for his teammate.
Brown, however, made some contact with Washington as he jumped toward the basket. That contact has been called into question.
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Did Jaylen Brown foul P.J. Washington?
As Washington rises for the dunk attempt, Brown appears to use his left hand to shove Washington in the back.
When the ABC broadcast showed a replay of White's block, play-by-play announcer Mike Breen took a firm stance about the non-call.
"Not only was it a great block, there should've been a foul call," Breen said during the broadcast. "Jaylen Brown with a shove in the back on this P.J. Washington play. Both guys blocked it, but that should've been a foul call."
Mike Breen: "Not only was it a great block, there should've been a foul call. Jaylen Brown with a shove in the back on this PJ Washington play. Both guys blocked it, but that should've been a foul call."pic.twitter.com/tuLS0dCynd https://t.co/E742Lsx5Ft
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 10, 2024
After the game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said "My interpretation [of the play] — it looked like a foul. But it wasn't called, so it wasn't a foul."
Because of the close nature of Game 2, the NBA will issue a "Last Two Minute Report" that addresses correct and incorrect calls (and non-calls) during the final two minutes of the game.
This article will be updated when the NBA issues a report.
