The NBA acknowledged Saturday that one call was made in the final minute of the Dallas Mavericks' dramatic 109-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on Friday night.
With 50 seconds left and the Timberwolves leading 108-106, guard Anthony Edwards made a pass to forward Jaden McDaniels near the baseline. McDaniels jumped to catch the ball and landed surrounded by Mavericks stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
McDaniels lost the ball out of bounds and it was initially ruled Timberwolves basketball, but Mavericks coach Jason Kidd appealed and won, giving possession back to Dallas.
But the NBA's Last Two Minutes report said a foul should have been called on Irving, who hit McDaniels' forearm to send the ball out of bounds.
“Irving (DAL) made contact with McDaniels (MIN)'s forearm and lost control of the ball,” the report stated.
The game was over when the ref standing in front of Jaden McDaniels saw Kyrie hitting him but didn't send him to the line. pic.twitter.com/Hr55EyxrLN
— Thomas Sullivan (@Yfz84) May 25, 2024
If Irving had been called for a foul, Minnesota would have been in the bonus and McDaniels would have been awarded two free throws with 47 seconds left, giving the Timberwolves a chance to extend their lead to four points.
Instead, the Mavericks got the ball back, and while Dallas couldn't score on the ensuing attempt (Doncic missed a 3-pointer), the Mavericks eventually hit the final 3 of the game to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Last Two Minutes report also explained why the officials failed to call a foul on Irving during the review.
“The replay review of Irving being called out of bounds pursuant to a coach's challenge is deemed successful,” the report states. “McDaniels was the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds and play resumed with Dallas possession. If an instant replay review of an out-of-bounds violation is initiated by a challenge, a personal foul is not reviewable and a no-call is not challengeable.”
The Timberwolves and Mavericks will meet on Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
