Did Jayson Tatum travel before game-winner vs. Raptors? NBA says officials missed crucial call on Celtics star | Sporting News

Jayson Tatum made the second buzzer-beating, game-winner of his career Saturday, draining a side-step 3-pointer to give Boston a three-point overtime win over Toronto. Impressive as the shot was, it has not come without controversy.

In the immediate aftermath of Tatum’s clutch jumper, basketball fans on X (formerly Twitter) quickly pointed out that he shuffled his feet before putting the ball on the floor. The discussion has now shifted to whether or not Tatum should have been whistled for an infraction before his heroics.

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

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Jayson Tatum game-winner vs. Raptors

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

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

JT JUST CALLED GAME 😮‍💨🚨#TissotBuzzerBeater #YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/0j5IPloASF

— NBA (@NBA) November 17, 2024

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

Did Jayson Tatum travel before game-winner vs. Raptors?

Tatum should have been called for a travel before his game-winner vs. Toronto, the NBA announced Sunday.

On the Last Two Minute Report for Saturday’s game, the NBA says officials made an incorrect non-call as Tatum “slides his pivot foot before releasing his dribble.”

After Tatum’s game-winner, BBALLBREAKDOWN on X posted 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 by rule would be a travel.

If I were a Raptors fan, I’d be pretty pissed right now as Tatum got away with some fancy footwork on his game winner 🤦‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/HVEdGlX8G3

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) November 17, 2024

Celtics fans argued the potential non-call on Tatum is offset by a non-call on Jaylen Brown. No foul was called when Brown was dislodged 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 officials were incorrect in the non-call. The Raptors did not have a foul to give and Brown would have been awarded free throws.

Yahoo Sports NBA writer Vincent Goodwill posted that there was “a whole lotta 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 on Tatum’s footwork with its Last Two Minute report. Within the report, the league will share whether or not the game’s officials made the correct or incorrect non-call.