It was a matchup of MVP candidates. And the NBA’s No. 1 offense versus the No. 2 defense. And an exciting fourth quarter and final minute.
All of those discussion-worthy topics, however, paled compared to The Gesture with seven seconds left in Dallas’ 112-109 loss to Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum — the hand motion and look of frustration that Luka Doncic directed toward the Mavericks’ bench when a potential tying possession fizzled with two missed shots and Doncic not touching the ball.
The gesture was Doncic, who finished with 28 points, 13 assists and nin rebounds, raising both hands and forming a T, clearly indicating that he believed a timeout should have been called in that situation.
Granted, it only lasted only a few seconds, and other moments certainly factored into short-handed Dallas (6-5) not being able to pull out an upset win, but the gesture was a rare moment of outward disagreement that Doncic has shown in a coaching decision during his three seasons.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked about coach Rick Carlisle not calling for a timeout. “It’s coach’s decision. If we would have made the shot, everything would be good. If we can make the shot, everything would be different.
“But I don’t know. It’s coach’s decision to call a timeout or not, so I think it’s good.”
Milwaukee led 109-107 when Dallas gained possession with 39 seconds left, after a Jrue Holiday miss. Dallas’ Trey Burke missed a 29-foot 3-pointer from the beyond the top of the key with 21 seconds left, but the ball bounced out to Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein.
The ball was swung around to an open Kristaps Porzingis (15 points), who at that point, with 10 seconds left, was 5 of 18 from the field. Porzingis was wide open, yet seemed to a hurry a 28-foot 3-pointer that sailed over the rim and glanced off the backboard.
Milwaukee rebounded. Dallas fouled Kris Middleton, then came Doncic’s gesture, as Middleton eventually made both free-throws. Naturally, Carlisle was asked after the game about Doncic’s clear displeasure.
“Yeah, I like the ball in his hands and the defense not being set,” Carlisle said. “One great look at a 3 from Burke at the top and then we got an offensive rebound and Porzingis got a look, so we got two good looks and you always want to save your [last] timeout if you can.”
Carlisle’s clear inference: He believed not calling timeout was the correct decision in that situation, but he also believes the ball should have found its way into Doncic’s hands.
“It’s very difficult to call a timeout against a Milwaukee set defense out of a timeout, so I think in those situations, if you can put the ball in your best player’s hands you’ll get better opportunities,” Carlisle said. “And I thought we got two good ones.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks (9-4) with 31 points despite shooting 1 for 10 at the free-throw line.
Friday was game six of a stretch of 10 games in which the Mavericks are playing eight times on the road, having had a home game against Orlando postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
Dallas’ three home games so far this season are the fewest in the NBA and the Mavericks’ eight road games are tied for the most, with Utah and Chicago.
Next, the Mavericks come home for a Sunday afternoon game against the Bulls, but that is part of a home/road back-to-back as Dallas finishes this rugged stretch against Toronto, Indiana and San Antonio on the road.
