NBA acknowledges missed call in Pelicans-Mavericks

NEW YORK -- The NBA says an officiating mistake at the end of this weekend's game between Dallas and New Orleans cost the Pelicans a chance to tie it.

This was the second time in two weeks the NBA acknowledged a missed call near the end of a close game won by the Mavericks.

President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn said Sunday that a foul should've been called on Monta Ellis of the Mavericks as Austin Rivers tried a 3-point shot at the last second.

Rivers was tied up by Ellis and the shot got nowhere close to the basket Saturday night. The Mavericks won at home 110-107.

Thorn says a review of postgame video shows Ellis made contact with Austin's arms. The NBA says Austin should have been given three free throws with sixth-tenths of a second left.

Pelicans coach Monty Williams argued for a foul as the officials left the court. He later said it was ''embarrassing'' that there was no call.

On Dec. 31, the NBA said it missed a call in the closing seconds of a game between the Mavericks and Minnesota. A day after Dallas won on the road 100-98, the league said Timberwolves star Kevin Love was fouled by Shawn Marion and should have gotten two free throws.