DALLAS -- Following the final buzzer of Game 3 of the Mavericks-Nuggets series, several players had to be restrained.
Josh Howard and Antoine Wright of the Mavericks were seen going after the referees at mid-court of the American Airlines Center. Assistant coach Darrell Armstrong almost pulled Howard's jersey off trying to get him to walk toward the locker room.
In the middle of the scrum was Denver's Keynon Martin who was laughing and yelling.
"After the game, a couple of their guys were mad at the ref about the call," Martin said. "I was trying to play peacemaker. I've given those folks [NBA] enough of my money already. I'm trying to hold onto mine so I'm just trying to play peacemaker."
The play in question was a non-call on Wright who tried to foul Carmelo Anthony in the closing seconds. Wright hit Anthony in the shoulder, but no foul was called.
After the game, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was very critical of referee Mark Wunderlich, who was the official near the Wright non-call.
"Unfortunately, in a game where 61 fouls were called, an official decides not to call a foul when we were trying to give one," Carlisle said.
The coach later said he felt bad for Wunderlich because he missed the call.
"It's just extremely disappointing," Carlisle said. "I'm almost as disappointed for Mark as I am for us. That's a call he makes 100 percent of the time."
The NBA doesn't like it when coaches and players are critical of the officials and when it happens, fines and sometimes suspensions occur. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who has been fined a few times in his career for comments regarding officiating, didn't speak with reporters after the game.
The dustup at the end will probably be looked at by the league office, and of course the comments by some of the players will also be reviewed.
"What do you want me to do?" asked Wright. "Do you want me to Derek Fisher him, just take him out and then I get a flagrant foul late in the game. I can't blatantly run through the guy, I have to try to make a play on the ball and that's what I felt like I did."
The NBA, however, agreed with the Mavericks. It released a statement on Saturday night saying the referees missed a call at the end of the game.
"At the end of the Dallas-Denver game this evening, the officials missed an intentional foul committed by Antoine Wright on Carmelo Anthony, just prior to Anthony's three-point basket," said the statement.
So, what does Nuggets coach George Karl have to say about all this stuff?
"I didn't see a foul," he said. "I don't know. I might have been reading something else. I think its awful difficult to foul at the end of the game when the referee knows you're going to foul. I didn't see much of a foul."
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks puts up a shot against Zydrunas Ilgauskas #11 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Johnson;Zydrunas Ilgauskas
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers puts up a shot against Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James;Josh Smith
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Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James reacts after making a tree-point shot during first half action in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena, in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, May 9, 2009. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT)
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Atlanta Hawks Zaza Pachulia (27) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (23) during first half action in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals at Philips Arena, in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, May 9, 2009. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT)
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles for a jump ball against Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James;Josh Smith
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks puts up a shot against Joe Smith #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Smith;Joe Smith
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Joe Johnson (2) of the Atlanta hawks drives to the basket past Joe Smith (R) of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoff basketball game in Atlanta, Georgia, May 9, 2009. REUTERS/Pouya Dianat (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-09-2009 @ 11:07PM
Martin said...
Although the ref should have called the foul, Dallas didn't play it very smart at the end. On Dallas's second to last possession, they took the shot too early. They could have taken a couple more seconds off the clock before shooting. Then, they waited too long to try to take the intentional foul and the defender should have used his hands, rather than just his body, when he tried to foul Anthony.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 5:55PM
kwilbur10 said...
here is a question to everyone. if melo missed the shot would this even be an issue, dallas would have said that they didn't foul hard enough and nuggets would have complained for the lack of call. funny how things can be turned around
5-09-2009 @ 11:13PM
SAKid said...
Poor Marky Mark. All Cuban's whining and it still doesn't get him a call. Couldn't have happened to a more appropriate guy.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 11:41PM
lbeptx said...
why so bitter? you sound like mark cuban slept with your wife or sister...
the nba sucks anyway...
5-10-2009 @ 2:32PM
Bryan said...
Then why do you watch the NBA if it sucks so much?
why do you read blogs about the NBA if it sucks so much?
You fail at life. Go jump in a lake and drown
5-10-2009 @ 12:38AM
sjmarkets said...
Mark Cuban is an Idiot anyway, Whats new.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 1:50AM
revtjb said...
1. If you want to intentionally foul a guy, you tell the refs before the play starts, and then you use your hands to reach for the ball. He didn't use his hands, he used his chest, which made it look like he was traying to draw a charge, not intentionally foul. For that reason, it was a good no call.
2. You play until you hear a whistle. You learn that in grade school. He quit instead of continue to guard Carmelo.
3. Why would you want to intentionally foul? You have a two point lead at home and you have a guy trying to get off a desperation shot with under 3 seconds. I've never heard of anyone intentinally fouling someone in that situation. It puts your opponent on the line with 2 free throws to tie the game. Stupid.
4. This loss just accelerates what was already going to happen. Dallas was always going to lose this series, so the whole non-call is irrelevant.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 5:51PM
kwilbur10 said...
hey they had a foul to give that is why they wanted to foul. it kills time and it helps you to try and figure out what that play was.
another thing is that it helps that you are 2-1 not 3-0. not saying dallas is going to win the series its just that they would have forced another game.
5-10-2009 @ 2:24AM
draymorton73 said...
Hey, revtjb, they weren't going to put the Nuggets on the line. Dallas had a foul to give, you idiot.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 6:41PM
Giles said...
You can take a common foul with one to give, not an intentional foul. If you are up by 4, just try to use up time, don`t risk contesting the shot and maybe giving up a 4 point play. Up by only 2, bear hug the guy before the shot, if you want an intentional foul, or trust your defense to smother the shot, don`t let him make an attempt, giving up 2 at the line, and overtime, is better than giving up the game.
5-10-2009 @ 5:01AM
obamaizadope said...
everybody knows nba refs are crooked..the boy had money on the nuggets, what can you say?
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 8:58AM
theBIRD said...
Wow! Crooked Ref's in the NBA?!!!! No way! Well SURELY this is a first?!!!!!!
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 9:02AM
theBIRD said...
Also, with the NBA releasing a statement within hours, (like 2), of the game Admitting it was a bad no call...should kinda tell you...IT WAS A BAD NO CALL!
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 9:18AM
noconadan said...
NBA refs are a joke!!! I've seen better jr. high officials.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:12PM
jbird2099 said...
Players dont decide close games, the refs do. I watched the play closely, yes Wright did use the body first, then he went for the ball an wacked Melo's arm pretty hard going for the ball no call game over. Sorry Dirk time to get out of dallas you will never win one with Cubes in the mix.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:20PM
kenest66 said...
I don't care whether you are playing pee wee ball or in the NBA. The only way to beat bad reffing (and there is bad reffing at all levels) is to score more and defend better.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:47PM
vclw said...
Why doesn't nba use instant replay in playoff games, it would have clearly shown the foul, and then they could simply reset the clock, and continue from that point?
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:49PM
rumpireguy said...
Officating should be consistent from the start of the game to the finish period. If its a strike in the first inning of a baseball game it better be a strike in 9th, ifs a holding calling in the first quarter than it better be one in the fourth quarter. The officials in this game set the tone of the game by calling so many fouls and they should of finished that way. It doesnt matter whether Dallas previous chances, the key here was Dallas had one foul to give and it was missed.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:57PM
yumcookiecrisp said...
ok, honestly the whole nba is a complete and other disgrace. Not one player plays defense all during the season and when it comes down to the playoffs, the games are won and lost by the refs. The nba has to be the most crooked pro sport ive ever watched and it has me suspicious of other other sports because of it now.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 4:41PM
jmayernj said...
As I've I felt for years, who do the refs, umps work for. If you said the League, you are correct. They do what we all do, follow instrutions from their bosses. All pro sports are controlled and manipulated for profits and ratings. Watch closely, refs moving the ball 2 yards for a first down, missed foul calls in nba, perfect pitch called a ball? They don't do it on every play ,but to achive the outcome they desire, when big money is on the line
Reply