Referee acknowledges missed foul on Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving in Game 2

The Dallas Mavericks are now up 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals after a controversial call late in Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With just 47 seconds remaining and the Timberwolves up by two, Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving appeared to knock the ball out of the hands of Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels. Initially called out of bounds off Irving, the Mavericks challenged the call and it was overturned upon review, giving them possession.

However, a post-game report revealed that Irving should have been called for a foul on the play. Referee Zach Zarba admitted that there was illegal contact from Irving to McDaniels’ forearm that should have been a foul. This missed call had a significant impact on the game, as a foul would have sent McDaniels to the line with a chance to extend the Timberwolves’ lead.

Instead, Luka Doncic sealed the victory for the Mavericks with a game-winning shot in the final seconds, leaving the Timberwolves in a tough 2-0 deficit as the series shifts to Dallas. The controversial call and missed foul will surely be a topic of discussion as the teams prepare for Game 3. Stay tuned for more updates on this intense Western Conference Finals matchup.