New Orleans Pelicans' Austin Rivers (25) reaches to his head with his hands after looking for a foul call against the Dallas Mavericks as time ran in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, in Dallas. The Mavericks won 110-107. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (The Associated Press)
NEW YORK – The NBA says an officiating mistake at the end of this weekend's game between Dallas and New Orleans cost the Pelicans a chance to tie it.
President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn said Sunday that a foul should've been called on Monta Ellis of the Mavericks as Austin Rivers tried a 3-point shot at the last second.
Rivers was tied up by Ellis and the shot got nowhere close to the basket Saturday night. The Mavericks won 110-107.
Thorn says a review of postgame video shows Ellis made contact with Austin's arms. The NBA says Austin should have been given three free throws with sixth-tenths of a second left.
Pelicans coach Monty Williams argued for a foul as the officials left the court. He later said it was "embarrassing" that there was no call.
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