If you missed Wednesday night’s Mavericks-Knicks affair at the American Airlines Center, you missed one of the wilder, messier endings you’ll see in an NBA game.
For a moment, the Mavs thought they’d forced overtime against the Knicks despite Cooper Flagg’s absence. For Dallas fans that watched the finish to Stars-Islanders at the AAC the night before, a game-tying shot being disallowed due to a controversial call sounds awfully familiar.
After a final couple of minutes filled with chaos and missed free throws, the Mavs had a chance to tie the game trailing 113-111 with 3.8 seconds remaining. Dallas perfectly executed Jason Kidd’s inbound play as P.J. Washington lobbed the ball to Dereck Lively II at midcourt, who immediately turned and passed to a sprinting Brandon Williams.
Williams attacked the rim and made what Dallas thought was a game-tying layup that had forced overtime, but an official called an offensive foul on Williams for hooking his arm around Knicks guard Landry Shamet to get to the rim.
Mavericks
Aside from the incensed Mavericks players and fans, the ESPN broadcast also disagreed with the call as Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler highlighted that Shamet bumped Williams before the hook happened.
Check out the controversial finish below. Did the referees get the call right?
Was this the right call in Mavs-Knicks?
Brandon Williams thought he’d tied the game and forced OT until an offensive foul was called on Williams for hooking Landry Shamet😬
Sound off, #MFFL Nation!pic.twitter.com/O6S07ouHAy
— SportsDay Mavs (@dmn_mavericks) November 20, 2025
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