Call, result go against Cavaliers at the end
INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James scored 47 points and appeared to have rallied the Cleveland Cavaliers to force overtime, but that appearance was deceiving.
James was called for a foul with 0.2 seconds left, and Danny Granger made one of two free throws to give the Indiana Pacers an improbable 96-95 victory that sent James to the locker room in disgust and Mike Brown, the usually composed Cleveland coach, into a tirade.
“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 . . . to take away a basketball game from a team with .4 seconds on the clock is irresponsible.â€
Moments earlier, the Pacers thought they had been wronged. Leading, 95-93, with 0.8 seconds left, Granger was called for a foul on an alley-oop to James off the inbounds pass. James made both free throws to tie it.
The day’s only good news for the Cavaliers came before the game, when guard Mo Williams was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team, replacing the injured Chris Bosh.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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