The NBA hasn’t been short of controversial officiating in the past few weeks. The most costly, perhaps, was a no-call goaltend against Damian Lillard’s game-tying lay-in. The league once again saw anti-officiating woes on Saturday night following the Dallas Mavericks' loss against the Atlanta Hawks. Mavs owner Mark Cuban erupted on social media, speaking out against the referees. He also criticized the league’s leadership as well as its development program.
Per Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, the team followed with an official protest to the league office over their 111-107 loss. Consequently, the NBA plans to await Adam Silver’s ruling on the protest before deciding on possible discipline for Cuban’s subsequent behavior.
Cuban is facing significant fines, something not new to a longtime critic of NBA officiating. In fact, he’s accumulated more than two million dollars worth over the years. However, NBA commissioner Adam Silver may also consider additional punishment. Aside from his Twitter tirade, the Dallas owner notably set foot twice on court during the said game. Both were during dead-ball situations in the final minutes.
The Mavs’ protest highlights an overturned call on Trae Young’s layup attempt. Hawks power forward John Collins attempted a putback, but was initially called for goaltending. Consequently, the referees ruled that it was an “inadvertent whistle” after a video review. This eventually led to a Hawks four-point win.
Although the Mavs are a significant length away from the eighth spot, the loss meant a 34-23 record for the Mavericks. This means they are now one win short of tying OKC in the sixth spot, which could significantly affect seeding and first-round matchups.
Follow Us
Subscribe