Doncic indicated that the referees were paid during the Mavs’ game versus the Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors-Dallas Mavericks game on Wednesday night sparked some controversy, and Luka Doncic expressed his emotions. Following a timeout in the third quarter, the Mavericks believed they had control of the ball, so the five players on the court gathered on one side of the court. However, that was Golden State’s ball. With the two teams on opposite ends of the court, the referee sent the ball to Warriors’ Jordan Poole, who inbound beneath his own basket with no Mavericks nearby.
Poole’s pass to Kevon Looney resulted in a successful dunk, but the Mavs lost 127-125. Doncic and other Mavs were also subjected to minor whistles throughout the game. Doncic expressed his displeasure with the refs near the end of the game.
The “inappropriate and unprofessional” gesture cost the superstar $35,000. Doncic made the gesture with 1.7 seconds left in the game, shortly after missing a disputed layup that could have reduced the lead to a point. The aforementioned free shot prompted Dallas to file a game protest, with team owner Mark Cuba claiming that the refs never informed his side that it was Golden State’s ball.
“For those wondering about the play with 1:54 left in the third, let me explain what happened,” Cuban tweeted after the game. “The referee called it Mavs ball. The announcer announced it. Then there was a timeout. During the time out, the official changed the call without informing us. Then, when they saw us line up as if it were our ball, he simply handed it to the warriors. Never mentioned anything to us. They received an easy basketball. It’s crazy that it would matter in a two-point game. The worst officiating non-call blunder in NBA history. They could have just told us, but they didn’t. The Mavs were able to lead 117-115 with 3:52 remaining.
