NBA rules refs had 2 incorrect non-calls on 1 play before Mavs-Griz OT
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is never shy about sending questionable calls to the league office. This time, though, he probably kept things to himself after the Mavs beat the Memphis Grizzlies in overtime Saturday.
Dallas had two chances to win in regulation. The second was a shot-in-the-dark, inbounds alley-oop attempt with 0.5 seconds left on the clock. However, the preceding possession proved to be a good chance. But what transpired before Dirk Nowitzki got off an errant jumper with about 3.5 seconds left should have given Memphis a last chance to win -- the Mavs forward should have been whistled for traveling at about the 5.2-second mark, according to the league's Last Two Minute Report (check out the video here):
The travel was the first missed call. The second, the league says, was a non-call when Grizzlies center Marc Gasol bumped into Nowitzki while shooting. Of course, had the traveling been called, Nowitzki's shot never would have happened and the Memphis would have had the ball.
Now, had the Mavs dropped this one in OT, you can bet Cuban would have been hot. The league also ruled that the refs blew a pair of calls in OT, both of which went against Dallas, including what should have been an offensive foul on Gasol, and then a phantom call on Mavs guard Raymond Felton. Grizzlies guard Mike Conley launched a desperation 3-pointer over Felton with 6.5 seconds left. The whistle blew despite Felton coming nowhere close to making contact.
