Mavericks Fall to Pelicans in Shorthanded Matchup After Controversial Finish: “We Thought It Was Goaltending”
A night of high emotions, thrilling basketball, and pivotal moments ended controversially when the Dallas Mavericks (22-19) lost 119-116 to the New Orleans Pelicans (10-32) at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday. Despite both teams being shorthanded, everything from dramatic comebacks to standout individual performances occurred, but it will ultimately be remembered for its contentious ending.
The Mavericks, who faced an 11-point deficit in the first half, rallied behind Daniel Gafford’s career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jaden Hardy’s 21 points, Spencer Dinwiddie’s 20 points and five rebounds, and P.J. Washington’s 14 points and 14 rebounds. Despite being without Luka Doncic (left calf strain), Kyrie Irving (lumbar back sprain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle sprain), and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery) Dallas fought hard to take a late lead in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling short in clutch time.
“We always have motivation,” Dinwiddie said. “This group and coaching staff are pretty focused. We compete every night, and we’re still above .500. We’re not making any excuses; we’re using a next-man-up mentality and focusing on our day-to-day preparation, practice, and the games ahead. We’re trying to win each game as it comes, but of course, we’re also looking to return to full strength.”
With Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones remaining sidelined, the Pelicans, led by Dejounte Murray’s season-high 30 points and Trey Murphy III’s two-way impact, secured the win dramatically. Murphy’s game-sealing block on Dinwiddie’s potential go-ahead layup with four seconds remaining was the defining moment. The Mavericks argued that Murphy’s block was a clear case of goaltending, as the ball appeared to have hit the backboard first. However, the no-call stood, leaving Dallas furious and New Orleans celebrating.
“I thought it was goaltending. Unfortunately, the three referees did not see that, so it was not goaltending,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “The review is to protect the officials and to try to get it right. That’s what the review or the challenge is for, especially in the last two minutes. If they called something or should have blown the whistle, it’s about getting it right. I think all three were scared to death to do anything, so they didn’t.”
The Pelicans’ win avenged their worst loss of the season, a 132-91 blowout by Dallas in November. It also boosted a team that has struggled to find consistency amid constant injuries. While the game’s controversy will dominate headlines, there were plenty of timely plays down the stretch. Neither team—or their fans—will soon forget the night, especially a Dallas team that has lost eight of its last 10 games.
Game Flow and Critical Moments
The Pelicans started the game strong, shooting 50% from the field in the first quarter and forcing the Mavericks into seven turnovers, leading to 10 points off turnovers. Murphy and Yves Missi combined for 13 points, helping New Orleans build a 33-27 lead. Their defense disrupted Dallas early, creating transition opportunities and setting the tone for the game.
Gafford’s paint finishing and Hardy’s transition scoring in the second quarter helped Dallas fight back. Hardy scored 19 points in the first half, while Gafford’s dominance in the paint kept the Mavericks competitive, scoring 17. Washington was already in double figures, too, with 10 points and nine boards. Despite trailing for most of the half, Dallas capitalized on second-chance opportunities, cutting the deficit to 63-61.
The third quarter marked a shift in momentum. Dinwiddie scored 10 points and connected on timely three-pointers. After the Pelicans opened the quarter on a 14-4 run to take a 79-69 lead, Dallas regrouped during a timeout and responded with a 20-6 run. The surge, capped by a deep three-pointer from Quentin Grimes and a driving layup from Dinwiddie, gave the Mavericks a 91-87 lead heading into the fourth.
“Gaff was great. It’s similar to what he has done here when he’s started,” Kidd said. “We needed that kind of game from him, especially on a back-to-back. He really helped put us in a position to win.”
In the final period, New Orleans leaned heavily on Dejounte Murray, who scored 13 in the last six minutes, including a high-arching floater and a turnaround jumper that steadied the Pelicans. Whenever New Orleans needed a timely play, he delivered.
“That’s just who he is, who he’s been over the course of the last five to seven seasons,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “It’s good to see him push through. He’s mentally tough. He’s a leader.”
Klay Thompson, who finished with 12 points, gave Dallas a spark in crunch time, drilling a contested three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to put the Mavericks up 110-109. Moments later, he hit a smooth mid-range jumper to extend the lead to 112-109 with just under two minutes remaining.
New Orleans responded with composure. Murray attacked the defense before finding Green for a corner three-pointer, giving the Pelicans a 116-114 advantage with 43.9 seconds left. The shot capped off crisp ball movement and proved to be the game’s decisive moment.
“That was a big shot,” Green said. “We trust Javonte to step up in moments like that, and he delivered.”
Despite Thompson’s late heroics, the Mavericks could not reclaim the lead as New Orleans executed down the stretch to secure the victory.
Controversial Finish
The ending was mired in controversy. With the Mavericks trailing by one, Washington’s steal set up Dinwiddie for a potential game-winning drive. However, Murphy blocked Dinwiddie’s layup, a play the Mavericks vehemently argued was goaltending—a call the officials did not make.
“Big time on his part,” Green said about Murphy’s block. “Big time play to track it down and to go after it, and then make the free throws at the end.”
Dinwiddie expressed his frustration with the no-call and the challenges such decisions present, especially in crucial moments. Reflecting on the play, he described how the situation unfolded and why he felt the officials missed a critical call.
“Obviously, everybody’s been sending me tweets and replays and all that. I think the refs have a hard enough job as it is. In a perfect world, if you’re not sure about a call, you probably just make it,” Dinwiddie said. “But when you go back and look, it was a clear goaltend. I put the ball on the glass for that exact reason. If you block it after it hits, it’s goaltending. That’s not even something I’m new to doing — I’ve made a career off of it.”
Dinwiddie also acknowledged the team’s role in the loss, pointing to areas where Dallas could have been sharper to avoid relying on a final call.
“Yeah, man. I was told I was 100 percent wrong, but that’s how it goes sometimes,” Dinwiddie said. “Very frustrating, yes, but it’s not the only reason you lose a game. The politically correct thing to say is to talk about all the defensive breakdowns and the shots we missed. We could have made more plays, got behind by 19 points, and all those things.”
Kidd, reflecting on the team’s execution during the final possession, described how the Mavericks had positioned themselves for what they believed was a game-changing moment.
“We got the loose ball – understanding it was no timeouts, so they understood that, too,” Kidd said. “I thought the ball movement and the look Spencer got it up on the board, and clearly, we thought it was goaltending. Unfortunately, the three referees did not see that, so it was not goaltending.”
Washington, who was instrumental in the frantic final sequence and had a close view of the play, shared his disappointment with the no-call and the team’s overall execution down the stretch.
“A goaltend, but it obviously wasn’t called,” Washington said, “I think we could have executed down the stretch a little bit better and obviously got some stops and not put ourselves in that position, but it was definitely a goaltending.”
While the Mavericks were frustrated with not getting a goaltending call, the Pelicans felt Dinwiddie should have been called for an offensive foul, using his off-arm to push off as he finished at the rim.
Naji Marshall’s Emotional Return to New Orleans
The game also marked a significant return for Naji Marshall, facing the team with which he began his NBA career. Marshall was warmly welcomed back with a heartfelt video tribute and cheers from the crowd, celebrating his contributions during his tenure with the Pelicans.
“His maturity, his growth — he was a huge part of our success here, and we miss him,” Green said. “But we’re all proud of what he’s doing, his accomplishments. He signed a big contract this season. We congratulated him.”
Marshall scored seven points, had a season-high 10 assists, and had two steals, showcasing his versatility and importance to the Mavericks.
Looking Ahead
The discussions surrounding the game’s officiating will likely persist, but the Mavericks will look to regroup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday at the American Airlines Center.
In pre-game, Kidd expressed optimism about regaining some help in the lineup. Irving, who went through a lengthy workout at Smoothie King Center, is viewed as likely to return to the lineup after sitting out on the second night of a back-to-back, while there is optimism Lively could play.
