NBA L2M: Refs Missed Goaltending in Mavs' Loss to Pelicans amid Jason Kidd Comments
The NBA's Last Two Minute Report revealed that referees missed a goaltending violation that would have given the Dallas Mavericks a late lead during the team's 119-116 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
With Dallas trailing by one point and 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie had his layup blocked by Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III. It appeared as though Murphy blocked the shot after the ball had already hit the backboard.
After the game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd discussed the call.
"The league wants to get it right," Kidd said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "The referees have a tough job. They clearly did not get that right, and it cost us maybe the game."
Following the play that was initially ruled as a block, Murphy recovered the ball and was fouled before hitting a pair of free throws. A last-second three-point attempt from Naji Marshall didn't connect, resulting in the win for New Orleans.
Dinwiddie expressed his displeasure with the call following the defeat.
"If people follow my career, and I beat the big or whatever, and I hold it out here, I put it directly on the glass for two reasons," Dinwiddie explained, via ESPN. "One, I'm tall and long. I'm extending, so they have to jump over and block it. If you do happen to block it, it's already on the glass and I'm scoring. I've literally made a whole bunch of money doing that exact move."
The veteran guard finished with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 6-17 from the field and connecting on three of his eight attempts from behind the arc.
As for Murphy, he posted a double-double by scoring 24 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to go along with four assists of his own. He shot 38.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
The Pelicans improved to 10-32 with the win, still sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
The defeat was especially costly for the Mavericks, as they now own the No. 7 spot in the West with a 22-19 record and are currently one game back from the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5.
Dallas will look to put the tough finish in the rearview mirror and stop a three-game losing streak during its next contest, a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
