Raised Jayson Tatum before the game-winner vs. Raptors? NBA says officials missed crucial call on Celtics star

On By Littum

Jayson Tatum made second buzzer beat, game-winner of his career Saturday, draining a sidestep 3-pointer to give Boston a three-point overtime win over Toronto. As impressive as the shot was, it hasn’t come without controversy.

Immediately following Tatum’s clutch jumper, basketball fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to point out that he shuffled his feet before putting the ball on the floor. The discussion has now shifted to whether Tatum should have been whistled for a foul before his heroics.

Did Tatum travel against the Raptors? Here’s a closer look at the play and how fans across social media have reacted to the slow-motion breakdown.

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Jayson Tatum Winner vs. Raptors

With less than 10 seconds left in overtime, the Celtics and Raptors were tied at 123. Tatum received the ball near the right wing and, after a series of push steps, used three dribbles to create space from Toronto forward Ochai Agbaji.

Tatum went up for a 3-pointer with under a second left. The ball left his hands before time expired, giving Boston its 11th win of the season while Toronto fell to 2-12.

Tatum finished the assist short of a triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. It was a big win for the Celtics, even though the Raptors were on the other end of a back-to-back and were without several key players, namely Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.

Raised Jayson Tatum before the game-winner vs. Raptors?

Tatum should have been called up for a trip before his game-winner against Toronto, the NBA announced Sunday.

On Last two minute report for Saturday’s game, the NBA says the officials made an incorrect no-call when Tatum “pushes his pivot foot before releasing his dribble.”

After Tatum’s game-winner, BBALLBREAKDOWN posted on X that Tatum “got away with some fancy footwork” before his game-winner. A slow-motion look at the play appears to show Tatum shuffling his feet on the jab series, which would normally be a trip.

Celtics fans argued that the potential no-call on Tatum is outweighed by a no-call on Jaylen Brown. No foul was called when Brown was stripped by Raptors guard Davion Mitchell during the play.

The Last Two Minute Report also acknowledges that Mitchell should have been whistled for a foul and that the referees were wrong in the non-call. The Raptors didn’t have a foul to give, and Brown would have gotten free throws.

Yahoo Sports NBA Writer Vincent Goodwill submitted that there were “a whole lot of steps there,” jokingly calling Tatum’s move “A whole Cupid Shuffle.” NBA agent and entrepreneur Nate Jones called it a “Bunny hop in the pea patch.”

Because Saturday’s game came down to the final play, the NBA will provide a definitive answer to Tatum’s footwork with its Last Two Minute report. In the report, the league will tell whether the game’s referees made the correct or incorrect non-call.