NBA: 7 incorrect calls made near end of Lakers-Mavericks game
Troy Brown Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks after at the referee Suyah Mehta #82 after a no foul call shooting three-point basket in the closing second of the game against Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on January 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP
The NBA on Friday acknowledged that officials made seven incorrect calls in the final two minutes of regulation and two subsequent overtimes of the Dallas Mavericks’ 119-115 win over the host Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
Not among those calls, however, was the one that appeared to infuriate the Lakers the most. Troy Brown launched a 3-pointer at the end of regulation, and the Mavericks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. hit the ball and Brown’s shooting hand.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, the play was officiated correctly because Hardaway “legally contested” the shot. Any “high-five” contact with Brown’s hand was incidental, the report indicated.
One of the incorrect calls went against the Lakers’ LeBron James at the end of the first overtime. As he attempted a game-winning shot with the score tied at 108 and 2.9 seconds to go, James was hit on the arm by Christian Wood before Wood blocked the shot.
Further, the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic should have been assessed a foul after that block for bumping the arm of the Lakers’ Wenyen Gabriel.
