The Portland Trail Blazers came undone late in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night. While Portland received its fair share of criticism in the 117-111 loss that ended with an 18-2 Mavs run, the refs in Dallas also caught flack for their roles in the contest.
Blazers fans took to social media to voice their frustrations with whistles down the stretch — or a lack there of — they felt tipped the scales toward Dallas. Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups also called the officiating “confusing” in his postgame press conference.
It turns out the flack was valid. According to the NBA’s Last Two-Minute Report on the game released Friday, the refs missed a critical call that went against the Blazers.
With under 1:15 remaining and Portland trailing 112-109, Blazers forward Toumani Camara drove down the lane. He tried to sidestep Dallas center Dereck Lively II and the two made contact as Camara flipped up a right-handed layup. Camara missed the shot, but he and the Blazers bench immediately started pleading for a foul call, to no avail.
A day later, the L2M Report has agreed with Portland’s pleas, saying that Lively should’ve been whistled for the foul.
Lively II (DAL) moves laterally into Camara (POR), initiating body contact that affects his driving shot attempt.
Instead of two free throws, Camara’s missed shot led to a Dallas rebound, followed by a Quentin Grimes 2-point dagger on the next possession with 31 seconds remaining.
According to the L2M Report, the no-call on Camara’s shot was the only missed call in the final two minutes.
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