NBA Cup Thriller: Clippers Survive Double OT Chaos as Automated Officiating Sparks Controversy Over Gafford Call

Oh, what a night to remember in the NBA Cup! The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers kept us all hanging by a thread—not once, but twice—as this thriller didn’t just end when the buzzer sounded. What really caught my eye, though, wasn’t just the back-and-forth intensity; it was the NBA’s clever use of their fresh, automated officiating technology to break down a nail-biting play in real-time. Imagine this: with the game knotted up at 123 in OT, James Harden’s floater looked like it was going to seal the deal for the Clippers until Daniel Gafford came outta nowhere with a block that had refs initially waving it off as goaltending. But here’s the kicker—the new NBA Court iQ system swooped in to analyze the trajectory, confirming the block was legit, pushing the contest into double overtime. It’s a glimpse into how tech is reshaping the game we love, making calls sharper and moments like these even more electrifying. Want the full scoop on this cutting-edge officiating and that unforgettable showdown? LEARN MORE.

Friday’s NBA Cup game between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers came down to the wire — twice. And the league had the chance to use a new-ish tool to determine if the game would keep going.

With the game tied at 123 in overtime, Clippers guard James Harden shot a floater with seconds left, but it was blocked by Daniel Gafford. Referees initially ruled the block as a goaltend, briefly awarding L.A. what would have been the game-winning two points.

The NBA then used its automated officiating to determine where the ball was in its arc. The league made automated officiating more widespread this season as a way to improve the accuracy of on-court calls.

After NBA’s Court iQ analyzed the shot, it determined Harden’s floater hadn’t yet reached the peak of its arc when Gafford smacked it, making it a block and not a goaltend. The result sent the game to double-overtime.

During OT of tonight’s #LACatDAL game, Replay Center officials utilized @NBA Court iQ to overturn the initial ruling of defensive goaltending by DAL to a good block as contact occurred when the ball was still on its upward flight to the basket. pic.twitter.com/UaQCw706bE

— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) November 15, 2025

The Clippers went on to win 133-127 in double OT, so the call probably didn’t change the end result. But it demonstrates the early stages of the arrival of automated officiating in the NBA — and in other pro sports as well, with robot umpires set to join MLB next season.

Harden finished with a triple-double, totaling 41 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Veteran Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanović pitched in 21 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers.

More NBA news

NBA Cup 2025 Stephen Currys 49point night stuns Spurs while Clippers win in 2OT and Pistons take ninth straight

D’Angelo Russell, who hit the game-tying layup in the final minutes of regulation, had 28 points off the bench for Dallas, while forward Naji Marshall had 28 points and eight rebounds as the Mavericks fell just short at home.