NBA says James Harden's game-winning shot that bored his teammates shouldn't have counted

James Harden's game-winning shot for the Houston Rockets against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night shouldn't have counted, the NBA admitted Friday. 

The league said Harden should have been called for an offensive foul against Andre Iguodala as he worked to free himself for the game-winning shot with 2.7 seconds left to play. 

But really -- can you imagine referees making that call at that moment? 

The Warriors were beating Houston 96-95 when Harden drove left against Iguodala then spun into a reverse pivot for a turnaround jumpshot. The Warriors turned it over on their ensuing possession, and Houston secured the Game 3 victory to narrow Golden State's series lead to 2-1. 

Here's a look at Harden's game-winning shot. 

Just as Harden begins to spin, he extends his right arm. That's the foul the NBA now says went uncalled. 

Technically, the shot shouldn't have counted. But I say this as a lifelong Warriors fan -- calling an offensive foul there, on minor contact with the game on the line, would have been been very, very "whack," as the kids say. 

There was another odd subtext to Harden's shot though -- one that was widely discussed in certain parts of the Internet. 

Watch the Houston bench after Harden sinks his game winner. Most of his teammates don't act like players who are ecstatic to have just extended their title hopes. They look more like people bummed out because now they have to push back those post-season vacations. 

Maybe they would have been more excited if refs had actually whistled that foul the NBA said on Friday should have been called? It's possible.  

Houston and Golden State meet again for Game 4 on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST. 

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