Regardless of gaining Luka Doncic again into their lineup, the Dallas Mavericks misplaced 100-99 to the Utah Jazz in Recreation 4 of their first-round playoff collection on Saturday. A number of the essential occasions down the stretch of that one have been controversial, to say the least. 

The Jazz pulled off an odds-defying comeback in Recreation 4 after trailing by 4 factors with beneath 40 seconds left in regulation. Within the final ten postseasons, groups trailing by no less than 4 factors inside the closing 40 seconds of gameplay held a 4-701 report. 

An important a part of the Jazz pulling off such an epic comeback was a controversial play that featured Donovan Mitchell elbowing Dwight Powell within the face. As an alternative of getting known as for an offensive foul, Mitchell regained possession after his missed layup and transformed on an and-one — making the rating 99-98 with 31.2 seconds left to play.

There was a notice about how Mitchell ought to have been known as for an offensive foul on the NBA’s Final Two-Minutes Report. Mitchell prolonged his arm and made contact with Powell’s face. 

“Powell jumps vertically and maintains a authorized vertical place contesting the play on the basket by Mitchell. Mitchell extends his arm towards Powell and makes contact along with his face, which impacts his capability to contest the play on the basket.”

Had Mitchell been known as for the offensive foul, the Mavericks would have gained possession of the basketball, nonetheless sustaining a four-point lead with 31.2 seconds left to play. Dallas would have been in a state of affairs the place groups posted a .994 profitable share over the past ten postseasons. 

As an alternative of the officers making the proper name, the Jazz benefited from an and-one name on the putback — lowering Dallas’ result in only one. 

The Mavericks’ subsequent possession featured Doncic throwing a bounce go to Powell leading to a foul. The Jazz sought to keep away from switching the ball display screen by having Gobert present to provide Bogdanovic time to recuperate, which left a window for Doncic to make the bounce go to Powell. 

Donovan Mitchell was the low man on the play and shortly recognized the vulnerability within the Jazz’s method to guarding the ball display screen — prompting him to satisfy Powell on the catch and fouling him. Powell went to the road and missed each of his free throw makes an attempt. 

“We received some nice appears, we get to the free-throw line (and) we simply don’t make them,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned. “That’s simply a part of the sport. You bought to have the ability to step up and knock them down.”

Going through only a one-point deficit, the Jazz used a lob go from Mitchell to Gobert in what finally grew to become the game-winning dunk. With the Mavericks staying house on Utah’s shooters, there can be no assist in place in opposition to the ball display screen. Mitchell drew Powell on the step-up earlier than launching the lob to Gobert with no defender left to impression the play. 

The Mavericks couldn’t execute on the ultimate possession because the Jazz despatched a late double at Doncic — forcing the ball out of his fingers. Spencer Dinwiddie took a contested catch-and-shoot jumper from prolonged 3-point vary and missed. 

“We didn’t actually execute it effectively,” Doncic mentioned. “I ought to have perhaps (drove) the ball. We should always have gotten a greater shot. Nevertheless it’s powerful. We simply received to study from it and go to the following one.”

On account of calling a timeout earlier than their closing possession, the Mavericks had the prospect to advance the ball as a substitute of inbounding it from the opposite facet of the courtroom. Dallas primarily based their resolution on having a working begin. 

“All people assumes you must advance it, however you don’t,” Kidd mentioned. “We’ve finished that every one 12 months and had success with it. We had the chance. We simply let it slip away. Spencer has made that shot earlier than from Luka. We received what we needed. It’s simply the ball didn’t go down for us.”

Whereas there undoubtedly was nonetheless a chance for the Mavericks to execute and are available out with a win, such a major swing attributable to officiating modified the circumstances. The Jazz would have needed to provide you with 5 factors in beneath 30 seconds of gameplay with Dallas having possession. 

On Monday, the collection shifts again to the American Airways Middle for Recreation 5 with the Mavericks and Jazz engaged in a 2-2 collection tie.