Mavs Luka Doncic Fined $35K For Making “Money Sign” Towards The Referee – Luka: “I used to have fun, smiling on the court, but now it’s just been frustrating” One month with Kyrie

After taunting referees with the word “money” late in Wednesday’s contentious 127-125 home defeat to the Warriors, Mavericks star Luka Doncic found himself on the receiving end of an ironic penalty from the NBA on Friday.

Mavs Luka Doncic Fined $35K For Making “Money Sign” Towards The Referee

In the American Airlines Center on Wednesday, the Mavericks player made the gesture after he missed a contested layup with 1.7 seconds left in the game despite believing he had been fouled but without receiving a call.

Of course, Doncic’s gesture was undoubtedly an indication of annoyance; after all, the Warriors were awarded two free points in the third quarter due to a dubious official ruling, and the Mavericks ultimately fell short, 127-125.

Luka: “I used to have fun, smiling on the court, but now it’s just been frustrating”

One month with Kyrie and Luka’s smile is gone.

Luka got into a verbal altercation with Kyrie during the last timeout.

Courtside fans overheard Luka shouting that he wishes the Mavs had never made the Kyrie trade.


“I think you can see it with me on the court,” Doncic said. “Sometimes I don’t feel it’s me. I’m just being out there. I used to have really fun, smiling on court, but it’s just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball.”

At the 3.2-second mark of the fourth quarter, Doncic attempted to cut the gap with a layup against Draymond Green in the middle of the paint, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The four-time All-Star Doncic expressed his displeasure with Green’s defence on the important play by rubbing his fingers together in a financial allusion as he went down the pitch.

The Warriors would later score two free throws to seal the game, but Doncic, who did not earn a technical foul for the gesture, had the same frustrated expression on his face.

The NBA punished the four-time All-Star minutes ago, calling the hand motion a “inappropriate and unprofessional gesture,” regardless of how the Mavs feel about the refereeing that night.

Despite Doncic’s  superb 30-point, seven-rebound, and 17-assist performance on Wednesday, the Mavs lost a crucial game, making it a painful night all around for Donicic and the team. Dallas would officially complain the NBA following a puzzling sequence that resulted in a Warriors score in the third quarter, it was revealed during the game.

After the game, the Mavericks reportedly filed a protest with the league office over an alleged “mistake” by the referees in the third quarter. Owner Mark Cuban immediately addressed the controversial play on Twitter.

“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,” Cuban said.

“Then when they saw us line up as if it were our ball, he just gave the ball to the warriors. Never said a word to us They got an easy basketball. Crazy that it would matter in a 2 point game. Worst officiating non call mistake possibly in the history of the NBA . All they had to do was tell us and they didn’t.”

With nine games left on their schedule, the Mavericks (36-37) are now sixth in the Western Conference. Dallas now trails the No. 7 seed Timberwolves (37-37), the No. 6 seed Warriors (38-36), the No. 5 Clippers (39-35), and the No. 4 Suns by 0.5 games, 1.5 games, and 2.5 games, respectively (38–34).

 

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