Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington made the game-winning free throws with 2.5 seconds left in the Mavericks' 117-116 Game 6 comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night that eliminated OKC from the NBA Playoffs.
Washington had the chance to put the Mavericks ahead after he was fouled by Thunder star Shaif Gilgeous-Alexander, but a closer look showed that this foul was less than conclusive:
While many say it was correct, lot of NBA fans are second-guessing the call:
bombeii – “I thought the rule was if they hit the ball first the hand contact is ruled out????”
BrickMoose – “Not really a playoff foul….”
Skip Sayless – “Unfortunately that was a good call”
Andre Ice High – “Worst part of the nba just let the refs pick the winners. Such BS”
SubZero Sports – “What a flat out disgrace to the sport of basketball NBA officials are. NBA you should be ashamed for what you’ve made this game.”
Francis – “Wasn't a foul. NBA refs have sucked all season, continue to suck tonight.”
Chuck – “Good call just sucks from an entertainment standpoint”
Isaias Mercado – “Good or bad? MF !!! You gotta be out your mind if you think this wasn’t a foul!”
Stingy Mickey – “It was definitely a foul What didn’t make sense was challenging this call when you had one timeout left Pretty much killed any chance you had at going for a last shot for the game”
G-Rich – “This is why this app is annoying, of course a slap across the arm is a foul goofy”
phillipbanksss – “Technically it’s a foul but it’s the playoffs game 7 cmon let the players win the game not a call like that. And PJ the mavs mvp Luka and kyrie shit the bed and would’ve gotten swept if him lively and jones ain’t show out”
Mavericks advance to NBA Western Conference Finals
The Mavericks rallied from a 17-point deficit early in the third quarter to eliminate the top-seeded Thunder.
Luka Doncic, who had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth triple-double this postseason, worked his way to the basket in the final seconds before passing to Washington in the corner. Washington made the first two free throws before missing the third intentionally to allow time to run out.
The Mavericks will start the West finals at the Denver-Minnesota winner of their NBA Playoffs Game 7 matchup on Wednesday night. The Mavs lost to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors in five games in the 2022 NBA Western Conference finals, Doncic's first trip that far.
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half, improved to a staggering 14-0 in games when his team had a chance to clinch the series.
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