The New Orleans Pelicans narrowly defeated the Dallas Mavericks with a 119-116 victory on Wednesday night, in a game marked by a contentious non-call that sparked debate. With just four seconds remaining, Trey Murphy III's block of Spencer Dinwiddie's layup attempt for the lead was not ruled a goaltend, despite video evidence suggesting otherwise. This pivotal moment left the Mavericks questioning the officiating as they navigated the game without their top scorers Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, both sidelined due to injuries.
Trey Murphy III delivered an impressive performance for the Pelicans, contributing 24 points and 10 rebounds. His controversial block, however, overshadowed his achievements on the court. Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored 20 points for the Mavericks, expressed his disagreement with the non-call, highlighting his strategic play.
"If people follow my career, and I beat the big or whatever, and I hold it out here, I put it directly on the glass for two reasons." – Spencer Dinwiddie
"If you do happen to block it, it's already on the glass and I'm scoring. I've literally made a whole bunch of money doing that exact move." – Spencer Dinwiddie
In addition to Dinwiddie's efforts, Daniel Gafford stood out for Dallas with a career-high 27 points on an impressive 12-of-13 shooting and secured 12 rebounds. Despite their individual performances, the Mavericks struggled without their key players and have now dropped three consecutive games and eight of their last ten contests.
The Pelicans capitalized on their momentum, securing their third win in four games despite missing Zion Williamson, who was rested after playing the previous night. Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with a game-high 30 points, while Javonte Green added 13 points to bolster the team's recent resurgence. This victory marks a significant turnaround for the Pelicans, who had won just five of their first 33 games before finding their groove.
The disputed block by Murphy was a critical turning point that could have altered the outcome of the game. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the challenging nature of officiating but emphasized the importance of accuracy in pivotal moments.
"The league wants to get it right. The referees have a tough job. They clearly did not get that right, and it cost us maybe the game." – Jason Kidd
Leave a Reply