After Friday evening's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, many expressed wonder and concern at the Dallas Mavericks' choice not to give Luka Doncic the ball in the last possession with the game on the line. But Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is owning up to the decision.

The Pelicans were up by two with 3.8 seconds to go. Doncic was stuck at halfcourt and didn't have the opportunity to even put up a shot.

 

Via ESPN's Tim MacMahon:

“I take responsibility for the last play. That's on me, the fact that it was unsuccessful.”

Perhaps Rick Carlisle was attempting to use Doncic as a decoy and thought someone on the perimeter would leave their man to help and double Doncic. This would allow the Mavs rookie to find someone else open and let them take the last shot. Instead, that risk wasn't worth it. The Pelicans played good defense and allowed the Mavs to play a four-man game in the halfcourt.

Doncic has proven himself to be very clutch lately and it's a bit of a surprise that Carslile didn't go to him.

He hit a game-tying shot against the Blazers that sent the Mavs to overtime. A number of days ago, he scored 11 straight points to keep the game alive against the Houston Rockets. His ability to stay cool and composed when the Mavs need a closer is uber-valuable and very impressive coming from a teenager.

Luka Doncic has averaged 19.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from deep this season.

The Mavs are now 16-18 on the season and sit 11th in the NBA's Western Conference. They will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at home this upcoming Sunday.