Strange NBA scene causes anger
Mavs boss: “Worst mistake in history”
3/23/2023 8:03 am
The Dallas Mavericks face a setback in the battle for NBA playoff spots. The home game against the Golden State Warriors is narrowly lost. A curious referee’s decision causes anger and bewilderment in the Mavericks boss.
Basketball pro Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has made a successful return to the NBA after his suspension. Morant contributed 17 points to his side’s 130-125 win over the Houston Rockets. The Grizzlies’ top player was banned by the league for eight games for a controversial nightclub video and “league-damaging behavior” and was used again for the first time. “Before that I meditated to ease my nervousness and emotions,” Morant said. “Coming out on the field and just seeing how the fans were reacting to my return meant a lot to me, I felt good inside.”
Maximilian Kleber and the Dallas Mavericks suffered a setback in the race for the playoff spots. In the duel against champions Golden State, the Texans narrowly lost 125-127 in front of their home crowd and thus failed to draw level with the Warriors in the Western Conference. The Mavericks are currently in ninth place, only the top six teams are sure to advance to the final round. The teams ranked seventh through tenth qualify for a tournament for the final two playoff spots.
However, a controversial situation late in the third quarter sparked debate. Mavs club boss Mark Cuban announced a protest against the game rating on ESPN after a controversial decision by the referees and complained about one of the “worst mistakes in NBA history”. The last successful protest in the league was in January 2008. But what happened? The Warriors had lost the ball, then there was a timeout. The umpires indicated possession for the Mavs, but apparently changed their mind during the time-out and gave the ball to Golden State. Dallas didn’t notice that and looked forward. The Warriors used the free space under the opposing basket and converted without resistance.
Cuban later tweeted: “Crazy that this scene would play into a two-point game. You (Editor’s note: the referees) They just had to tell us and didn’t do it.” The Mavericks had to do without superstar Kyrie Irving, but Luka Doncic returned after an injury break. The Slovenian had 30 points and was the outstanding player of the game. Kleber scored five points.
The Los Angeles Lakers with national player Dennis Schröder kept their chances for the playoffs. Even without the still injured superstar LeBron James, the Lakers won 122:111 against the Phoenix Suns. Schroeder scored 13 points. The Lakers are tenth in the West, just behind the Mavericks. The New York Knicks with the German center Isaiah Hartenstein lost 120:127 in the Miami Heat and thus failed to distance a competitor for the direct playoff entry. The Knicks are fifth in the East, two wins ahead of the Heat. Hartenstein got two points.