Mavericks say non-call on apparent goaltend cost them the game

NEW ORLEANS – The Pelicans outlasted the injury-riddled Dallas Mavericks 119-116 on Wednesday night after Trey Murphy III had a contested block on Spencer Dinwiddie’s layup for the lead with four seconds left.

Murphy had 24 points and 10 rebounds, capped by game-sealing free throws with two seconds left, but video replays made his block look like a goalie that wasn’t called.

“The league wants to get it right,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “The referees have a tough job. They clearly got that wrong and it might have cost us the game.”

With 15 seconds left and Dallas trailing 117-116, PJ Washington got a steal near midcourt and the Mavs pushed the ball in transition. Dinwiddie received a pass as he moved toward the basket and stepped up for a potential layup as Murphy trailed. The ball appeared to hit the glass before Murphy touched it, but the Mavs were out of timeouts and couldn’t challenge.

Dinwiddie disagreed with the non-call, saying he intentionally put the ball off the backboard so the shot couldn’t be blocked.

“If people follow my career and I hit the big one or whatever and I stick it out here, I put it right on the glass for two reasons,” said Dinwiddie, who finished with 20 points. “One, I’m tall and tall. I stretch so they have to jump over and block it.

“If you happen to block it, it’s already on the glass and I score. I’ve literally made a whole lot of money on that exact move.”

Daniel Gafford scored a career-high 27 points on 12-of-13 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds for Dallas, which was without top two scorers Luka Doncic (left calf) and Kyrie Irving (back), as well as usual starting center Dereck Lively (right ankle). The Mavs have lost three straight and eight of 10.

Dejounte Murray scored a game-high 30 points and Javonte Green added 13 points to help New Orleans (10-32) pick up its third win in four games after winning just five of its first 33.

The Pelicans played without Zion Williamson (left hamstring), who was rested after playing Tuesday night in Chicago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.