Dallas Mavs-Denver Nuggets, Game Three: Officiating Travesty

First of all, props to Dirk Nowitzki for playing through his personal problems to have a man-game with 33 points and 16 boards. And second, same to Carmello Anthony for making a big shot.

The big story, though, is the final 6.5 seconds, where the officials, specifically Mark Wunderlich, completely blew the call. 

Apparently there was some sort of breakdown in their brains, and they did not realize the situation, or they have some sort of vendetta against the Mavericks.  I don't think I need to tell anybody how obvious it is in that situation that the Mavericks want to foul and are going to foul.

The reason this is so upsetting is because normally I'd say if you're going to foul, commit a real foul, but how can you take that risk when yesterday, Ron Artest was assessed a flagrant two foul on a run-of-the-mill hard foul around the hoop? 

Wright can't risk pushing Anthony into the seats and the officials calling a flagrant that gives the Nuggets two free throws and the ball with three seconds left.

Instead, he made a very obvious, yet safe foul right in front of the Wunderlich. 

How could he not make the call?  Anthony even lost the ball.  And I've seen Bennet Salvatore make calls from 96 feet away.  Why didn't he blow the whistle?

I know some people will say that one call does not decide a game, and it's true, but there are different levels at which that saying applies. 

This is one of the most questionable instances because both teams played hard, there were some great performances and some great plays, and to top it off, Wright was making a smart play in crunch time.  This type of game should not be marred by critical officiating errors.

To make matters worse, this is pretty reminiscent of the officials giving the Mavericks a time-out—their last timeout—in between foul shots with a few seconds left.

I can't wait to hear an explanation from the league.  Referees should be forced to do post-game interviews just like the players, so they have to answer for things like this.

Update: For some reason, even though I had a picture of of Wunderlich, I attributed the offciating gaffe to Ken Mauer.  Sorry everybody, especially you, Ken, because I know you're reading...