NBA Ref Admits He Blew Call On Inadvertent Whistle In Hawks-Bulls Playoff Game

ATLANTA – NBA referee Bennett Salvatore has acknowledged that he blew a call in the closing minutes of Atlanta’s 100-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls, which evened the Eastern Conference semifinal at two games apiece.

With 2½ minutes remaining Sunday night and the Hawks leading 90-84, Bulls star Derrick Rose went up for a shot beyond the 3-point stripe and thought he was fouled by Jamal Crawford.

Salvatore blew his whistle, but ruled he had done it inadvertently. That led to a jump ball, which Atlanta’s Josh Smith tapped away from Joakim Noah. The Hawks scored on that possession to essentially finish off the Bulls.

Salvatore says he watched a replay afterward and should’ve called a foul on Crawford. The ref says, “I made a mistake. I was wrong.”