According to NBA rules, a jump ball can’t be tapped until it reaches its highest point.
So, when 6-6 Grant Williams beat out 7-1 Rudy Gobert for a key jump ball in the waning seconds of the Celtics’ 104-102 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night, there was some controversy.
It appeared that the ball was still going up when Williams tapped it.
“You can’t do that” pic.twitter.com/SaytVyDunm
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) March 16, 2023
Gobert told reporters after the game that he thought it was a steal, instead of a properly played jump ball.
“I think he stole the ball,” Gobert said. “I would never lose a jump ball to Grant Williams, with all due respect. I mean, if I do, it’s really on me. But I didn’t. Completely stole the ball, and I don’t know what happened with that situation.”
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Williams admitted that some would say he stole it, but also joked that he got a “good jump” on the ball.
“I was trying to jump inside-hand and try to smack it towards the corner because no one was there,” Williams said. “I was like, ‘Time will fly, clock will run’ … Even my head, if you look at it my head was at Rudy’s elbow the entire time. It was funny.”
"He stole the ball. I would never lose a jump ball to Grant Williams." #Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert gives his thoughts on the final moments in the loss to the Celtics. #RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/NcuLx7zuUb
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) March 16, 2023
Williams tapped the ball to the corner, where Jayson Tatum recovered it. Coach Joe Mazzulla tried to call a time out, but didn’t get it. Anthony Edwards and Kyle Anderson were both ejected after talking to the officials.
Tatum hit a pair of free-throws with 1.1 seconds remaining to secure the Celtics win.
“That was a big-time play,” Mazzulla said after the game.
The play is a positive step for Williams, whose minutes have been sliding recently. He played a combined 20 minutes during the Celtics’ previous two games against Houston and Portland.
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Williams logged 26 minutes against Minnesota, grabbing four rebounds and scoring two points on 1-5 shooting.