NBA: D-Wade's Game-Winner Was Legal

Did Dwyane Wade travel before he made a game-winning shot on Wednesday night? The NBA says no.

Blogger Rob Mahoney of Hardwood Paroxysm argued Thursday morning that Wade took an extra step before hitting a go-ahead jumper with 2.9 seconds left. The Heat held on for a 96-95 victory, but Mahoney wrote, "The officiating crew flat-out missed this game-changing call."

The league reacted swiftly, issuing a clarification on the NBA's website, and even went so far as to create a new Twitter account to address the uproar over Wade's final shot. The account, @NBAOfficials, has only issued one tweet as of Thursday night: "Was Wade's game winner legal? Yes ... See why at nba.com/official."

Spokesman Tim Frank explained the rule on Thursday. "Wade gathers the ball with his right foot on the floor, and step one is when both feet touch the floor simultaneously," he said. "He then steps with his right foot for step two."

That explanation was good enough for Mahoney, who issued a correction and posted a video of the play illustrating the NBA's clarification (below).



Even if Wade had traveled on the play, the Heat were owed some good karma after an earlier LeBron James dunk was not counted after it bounced of a defender's head back out of the hoop. The universe owed the Heat two points, so all's well that ends well.

In other controversy news, Wade issued a clarification himself, regarding the celebratory move he made immediately after the shot. In front of Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton, who sat courtside at the game in Charlotte, Wade imitated Newton's "Superman" touchdown celebration and pretended to rip open his shirt.

Because nothing the Miami Heat does goes unnoticed anymore, Wade was asked about the celebration. He said the move was just a tribute to Newton, with no ulterior motives.

"It's a great homage to him," he said. "He was laughing. He was cracking up. But it was great respect to him. I wasn't trying to show nobody up. It's about how much respect we have for the athletes."