STAYING FOCUSED: Dallas’s Dirk Nowitzki poured in 33 points despite embarrassing problems off the court. (Crystal Carroll/Friendsmavs.com)
Nuggets guard Carmelo Anthony’s winning three-point shot leaving one- second in the game cost the Mavs the game, and probably the series.
Referee Mark Wunderlich failed to call the hack by Dallas’s Antoine Wright against Anthony, appearing to swallow his whistle.
Anthony would go on to sink the winning bucket. Joel Litvin, NBA President, League and Basketball Operations made this statement after the game, “At the end of the Dallas–Denver game, the official missed an intentional foul committed by Antoine Wright on Carmelo Anthony, just prior to Anthony’s three-point basket.”
But admittedly, the Mavericks were their own worst enemy. Maverick guard Jason Terry would sink a three-pointer giving the Mavs a 105–101 lead with 31.1 seconds left.
However, in the final 3:50, the Mavericks missed six of seven shots.
Even All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t deliver, missing his last five shots. Nowitzki would finish the game with 33 points and 16 rebounds.
The personal problems plaguing him this week didn’t seem to be a factor in his play. A young woman was arrested last week in his home and charged with stealing personal financial records. Nowitzki has not been available to the press since the incident.
Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups, the NBA Finals MVP in 2004 known as “Mr. Big Shot” played a stellar game with 32 points. Billups paired with teammate Anthony for 63 points of the total Nuggets’ scoring.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle stated he loved the way his guys played and how they had battled, “toe to toe,” although he was extremely disappointed in the outcome.
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl took a different tone. “We have not played our best basketball this year, but have played well enough to win.
“Tonight we lacked balance and our bench was not as strong as it should have been.”
Anthony summed up his feeling concerning his game winning shot, “I’ve hit a lot of big shots in my career, but I’ve never hit one as big this in a playoff game.”
Nowitzki portrayed his and his teammates sentiments fully when he said, “This was a heartbreaker, about as tough a loss as I’ve been part of.”
Durhl Caussey is a writer based in Dallas who covers the Dallas Mavericks.
