Toronto Raptors forward Amir Johnson, right, drives into Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Wednesday, January 16, 2013.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
For the second time this season, the NBA says officials made a mistaken call against the Toronto Raptors that potentially changed the outcome of a close game.
The league said on its website Friday that Raptors forward Amir Johnson should have been awarded two free throws when he was fouled by Chicago's Joakim Noah while driving to the basket late in overtime in Toronto's 107-105 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday.
Instead, officials ruled the foul was on the floor and the Raptors had to inbound the ball with one second left. Jose Calderon's three-point attempt missed and the Raptors lost.
Had Johnson been awarded the free throws and hit them both, the game almost certainly would have went to double-overtime.
"I hope the league looks at that last play of the game when Amir Johnson gathers the shot going up," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said after the game. "I don't know who he's passing to, but I just hope they watch it. I hope they watch it."
It's not the first time the league has had to point out a crucial blown call against the Raptors.
In a Nov. 21 game in Charlotte, officials missed a foul on Andrea Bargnani's last shot attempt of the game as the Raptors lost 98-97. The league admitted later that Bargnani should have gone to the line.