NBA: Mavericks plan to protest loss to Warriors–report

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reacts during a timeout in the game against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center on March 22, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Tim Heitman/Getty Images/AFP

The Dallas Mavericks plan to file a formal protest with the NBA after claiming a refereeing error late in the third quarter led to their 127-125 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, according to a report by The Athletic.

The referee allegedly changed the call without signaling the Dallas bench, causing the Mavericks to set up on the wrong side of the floor during a Golden State inbounds play. The crash allowed Warriors center Kevon Looney to get a wide-open dunk, giving Golden State a 90-87 lead with just over two minutes left in the third.

“For those wondering about the play with 1:54 left in the 3rd, let me explain what happened. The ref called the Mavs ball. The announcer called it. Then there was a timeout,” Dallas owner Mark Cuban said in a tweet.

The Warriors got a free bucket after the Mavs defended the wrong basket 😅

(by @ soldier)pic.twitter.com/Uwtsnbqw4d

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 23, 2023

“During the time out, the official changed the phone and never told me. Then when they saw us line up like our ball, they just gave the ball to the soldier.

“Never said anything to us. He got an easy basket. Crazy that it would matter in a 2-point game. Worst non-call mistake in NBA history. All he had to do was tell us and he didn’t.

This is not the first time the Cubans have protested, as they also filed a protest after a 111-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on February 22, 2020.

Sean Wright, Michael Smith and Andy Nagy were the officials for the contest.

Field Level Media

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