Sixers hurt by 2 blown calls in 4-point loss to Celtics, NBA says

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Two missed calls that hurt the Sixers and favored the Celtics in Friday's four-point loss in Boston were highlighted in the NBA's Last Two Minute Report.

According to the league, an offensive foul should have been called on Al Horford with 1:49 remaining and the Celtics up two. Instead, Isaiah Thomas got to the line on that possession and made one of two free throws.

Later, with eight seconds left and the Sixers down, 107-106, Ersan Ilyasova missed a jumper. The NBA concluded that on the rebound attempt, Joel Embiid and Amir Johnson should have been called for a double-foul on each other, resulting in a jump ball. Instead, the rebound was awarded to Johnson and a foul was called on Embiid. Johnson also made one of two.

The NBA began issuing the Last Two Minute Reports in March 2015. The reports look at all calls made in the final two minutes of a game within five points. 

Kevin Durant, following the Warriors' one-point loss to the Cavs on Christmas, recently criticized the reports. 

"You can't fine us for when we go out there and criticize [the refs] and then throw them under the bus for the two-minute report. What about the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter? I think it's bull----," Durant told the San Jose Mercury News. "They should get rid of them. Refs don't deserve that. They're trying their hardest to get the play right, then you look at the play in slo-mo and say it's wrong. I think it's bull---- that they do that. Full of s--- that you throw the refs under the bus like that after the game. Like it matters. The game's over. We move on."

Per ESPN's Zach Lowe, NBA vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe indicated the Last Two Minute Reports will continue to be issued and that the league will "probably" advance to issuing game-long reports.

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