Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd blames a missed goaltending call for their loss against the Pelicans.
NEW ORLEANS — An egregiously missed goaltending violation “cost [the Mavericks] maybe the game” Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, according to head coach Jason Kidd.
With four seconds left, Spencer Dinwiddie drove to the basket for a layup to potentially give Dallas a one-point lead. Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III slapped the ball off the backboard and the crowd roared.
Nothing was called other than a Mavericks foul after the Pelicans gained possession of the loose ball. The Mavericks did not have a challenge to use or a timeout to call to prolong the inevitable – or what should have been inevitable for a critical play in the final seconds of a one-point game: review the call on instant replay.
The replay was shown on the KFAA broadcast, which was being called by Mark Followill and Derek Harper. It was clear as day to them.
“That’s goaltending,” Followill exclaimed.
“That’s goaltending all day,” Harper added.
“That hit the board first,” Followill said.
Mavericks players immediately protested to officials for a goaltend, but because there was no call made on the floor, the play was never reviewed. Murphy III instead made both of his free throws (Pelicans were in the bonus) to make the Mavericks deficit three points and a full court heave was airballed.
“The league wants to get it right,” Kidd said after the game. “The referees have a tough job. They clearly did not get that right, and it cost us maybe the game.”
The NBA’s X account posted the a clip of the play, which was community noted, and later deleted the video.