Clippers vs Mavericks: Forget Kawhi's match-winning performance, Dallas fans complain refs 'ruined the game'
It may have been a win for the Los Angeles Clippers when they edged out the Dallas Mavericks 118-110, but not before they faced some stiff resistance from Luka Doncic who had the Clippers at the loss of answers. If not for the ejection of power forward Kristaps Porzingis, the game would have gone down to the wire. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 56 points that were enough to hand a Game 1 win.
The Clippers threw the kitchen sink at Doncic even as he set the record for most points in a playoff debut with 42 points. The Mavs took at all up but had a bad decision in the form of Porzingis' ejection for his second technical foul. The refs handed him and Clippers forward, Marcus Morris Sr double technicals after a confrontation when the latter wrapped his arms around Doncic. This led to a confrontation between him and Porzingis. They had to be separated after Morris shoved him.
The decision against Porzingis led to widespread Twitter fury. Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James, and former Mavs legend, Dirk Nowitzki, expressed their displeasure as well. "Man, that was BOGUS AS HELL MAN!!!!! Cmon man." wrote LeBron.
Meanwhile, the rest of Twitter, especially the Mavs fans had a few things to say. "To be fair, it was his response to this play, not the play itself. But even the response didn't warrant a technical, so idfk what the refs have been doing this game."
To be fair, it was his response to this play, not the play itself. But even the response didn't warrant a technical, so idfk what the refs have been doing this game.
— Nathaniel Squires 🏳🌈 🌹 (@xNsqui) August 18, 2020
And then comes a bang tweet: "League needs the clippers vs lakers conference finals revenue, should be no surprise."
League needs the clippers vs lakers conference finals revenue, should be no surprise.
— nKuch (@nKuchGaming) August 18, 2020
The Mavs were quick to also blame the refs."The refs really want he clippers to advance," read one of the comments.
"Technical ejections in the playoffs should be like 3-4 man. Like cmon bruh we trying to watch the best players battle it out and that s**t wasn’t even a technical smh," one of the fans wrote on Twitter.
Technical ejections in the playoffs should be like 3-4 man. Like cmon bruh we trying to watch the best players battle it out and that shit wasn’t even a technical smh
— Miguel Lafortune (@Man_Of_Action20) August 18, 2020
Referees were the only ones taking the blame. "I don't even wanna watch the game anymore. It was a great game! I'm sick of referees ruining the game I love with their pride and egos, wanting to control and dictate the outcome of games... Smh," read one of the tweets.
I don't even wanna watch the game anymore. It was a great game! I'm sick of referees ruining the game I love with their pride and egos, wanting to control and dictate the outcome of games.. Smh
— DoZay (@DoZay1) August 18, 2020
What are your thoughts on the decision handed to Porzingis?
