Griffin sympathetic after NBA admits refs missed Rockets' goaltend

The NBA's Last Two Minute Report on Sunday acknowledged that officials didn't call a goaltend by Dwight Howard with 18.8 seconds left in the Houston Rockets' victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

While the play couldn't be reviewed because no goaltending call was made, the Clippers' anger was compounded by the fact officials chose to review an out-of-bounds call on the same play.

Instead of tying the game at 107 on the goaltend, the Rockets were awarded possession and hung on for the 109-105 win.

"That's textbook goaltending," said Clippers forward Blake Griffin - who finished with 35 points, 11 assists, and five assists - postgame before offering sympathy to the oft-maligned officials.

"Listen, reffing games is very hard," Griffin added. "I tried to ref a Little League camp game this summer and it didn't go so well, so I know. This game's going fast. I don't think any of those guys missed it on purpose, I really don't."