Dallas Mavericks officially protest their loss to the Golden State Warriors. What’s next?

By Lawrence Dow

Updated March 23, 2023 4:27 PM

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban files a grievance with the NBA after loss to Golden State Warriors on Wednesday Jeffrey McWhorter AP

The Dallas Mavericks plan to file a formal protest of their 127-125 defeat at the hands of Golden State Warriors on Wednesday to the NBA.

The loss was crucial as the Mavs are fighting for playoff positioning and currently find themselves in the ninth seed in the Western Conference.

The Mavs are filing the grievance due to a sequence in the third quarter where the Warriors scored an unguarded bucket because the Mavs were at the other end of the floor.

The Mavs and owner Mark Cuban claim the referees signaled it was Mavs ball then changed it during a timeout without informing the Mavs and that’s why their players were not under the correct basket.

For those wondering about the play with 1:54 to go on the 3rd, let me explain what happened. The ref called Mavs ball . The announcer announced it. Then there was a timeout . During the time out the official changed the call and never told us. Then when they saw us line up as…
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) March 23, 2023

For anyone who hasn't seen it, here's the odd sequence that led to the Warriors essentially two free points in Wednesday's game against the Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/5Y5339sAtU
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 23, 2023

Mavs defend the wrong basket, Warriors get a free bucket pic.twitter.com/XaxKxI3dpG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 23, 2023

Referee Sean Wright spoke to the Athletics Tim Cato after the game explaining they never signaled Mavs’ ball and instead they were signaling for a Mavs timeout.

Here’s what referee Sean Wright said to @tim_cato regarding the out of bounds play that has the Mavs wanting to protest tonight’s Warriors win in Dallas

Source via @Dalton Johnson pic.twitter.com/KdonCO4amq
— Norcalhoodie (@YIN_and_YANG_oo) March 23, 2023

Dallas has five days to provide evidence to the NBA who then has five days to make an official ruling. If the Mavs are successful the game would be replayed from that moment.

Rules of filing a protest

️Protest must be filed 48-hours after the conclusion of the game

️$10K protest fee (via a check) |Refunded if successful.

️Dallas has within 5 days to provide evidence

️The decision of the Commissioner is 5 days after receipt of evidence
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 23, 2023

This story was originally published March 23, 2023 at 2:54 PM.

Lawrence Dow

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.

Get unlimited digital access

#ReadLocal