Mark Cuban calls out referees on Twitter mid-game against LA Lakers
Mark Cuban, like thousands of NBA fans, was riveted into the action between his team, the Dallas Mavericks, and the LA Lakers. After Dallas' huge first-quarter, LA bounced back in the fourth to send the game into overtime.
The officiating, though, has been more than a little questionable, which has frustrated both teams and their legions of fans. Cuban may have had enough as he ultimately tweeted this:
"Stan van gundy is absolutely right. Worst officiated game. Luka gets no respect. Unreal."
Stan van gundy is absolutely right. Worst officiated game. Luka gets no respect. Unreal.
Stan Van Gundy called the game and repeatedly questioned on air how the referees officiated the game . They missed several calls that were not just confusing but mind-boggling.
The Dallas Mavericks superstar was at the center of the LA Lakers' defense. He didn't score a single point in the fourth quarter until the dagger three that sent the game into the first extra time.
Over the last 12 minutes of regulation, Doncic was consistently bothered by Russell Westbrook's man-to-man defense. The LA Lakers point guard took the job personally that he guarded "Luka Magic" for almost the entire length of the floor.
On numerous occasions, both jostled for possession even before the Mavericks tried to run their offense through Doncic. The Slovenian superstar fruitlessly argued his case to the referees to no avail.
Mark Cuban undoubtedly saw his team often end their possessions without Luka Doncic even touching the ball. He just couldn't believe what he saw with the way his franchise player was treated.
The LA Lakers desperately wanted to keep the ball out of the three-time All-Star's hands. For nearly the entire game, the strategy worked as they nearly beat the Dallas Mavericks despite being significantly undermanned.
Call or no call, Luka Doncic came through in the clutch against the LA Lakers
To be fair, it wasn't just the Dallas Mavericks who were on the short end of the calls. The LA Lakers, too, had their share of complaints.
The game might not have even gone into overtime had the referees made the right call before the end of regulation. Tim Hardaway Jr. clearly hit Troy Brown Jr.'s hand as the Lakers forward attempted a potential game-winning three-point shot.
Fortunately for the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic regained his composure just when the team needed him. He scored a game-tying three with 6.0 seconds left to knot the score at 101 all.
LUKA DONCIC STEPS BACK TO FORCE OVERTIME ON TNT! https://t.co/3QVewPeIgy
Nearly five minutes later, he again made the biggest bucket for his team despite the LA Lakers' effort to stop him. LA clung to a 108-105 lead before Doncic had another step-back three to send the game into another overtime.
LUKA STEPBACK FOR THE TIE.
AGAIN.
Double-overtime on TNT 🍿🍿🍿 https://t.co/8TyKSSgp6R
The Lakers' physical defense, particularly Westbrook's pestering, couldn't keep him bottled up for long. "Russ" and Doncic nearly even got into a fight after the former MVP intentionally bumped into him in the first OT.
Doncic's steady and calm presence is one of the biggest reasons why he's one of the NBA's leading MVP candidates. Tonight, he showed yet again that at crucial moments, he's the man that Mark Cuban wants his team to go to.