After protesting the officiating of the February 22 game between the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has denied the protest of Mark Cuban.

The NBA levied a $500,000 fine against Cuban for his public criticism and detrimental conduct regarding NBA officiating.

"The Mavericks’ protest centered on a successful field goal by Atlanta’s John Collins as a whistle was blown for goaltending by the Mavericks late in the fourth quarter. The goaltending call was overturned on instant replay review, but the Replay Center Official ruled that Collins’ goal should be scored because he was in the act of shooting at the time the goaltending call was made. Dallas contends that the officials misapplied the playing rules by allowing the basket."

According to the NBA release, Cuban walked onto the court and approached game officials shaking his head and directing comments toward them. This marked the second time he walked onto the court to challenge a call during the game.

Following the game, Mr. Cuban spoke to reporters in the arena and tweeted several times that night and into the next day with comments that were highly critical, personal and demeaning to the league and its officiating staff.

The next day, Dallas filed its protest of the game pursuant to league rules. Over the course of the next several days, Mr. Cuban continued his public criticism of NBA officiating.

After a comprehensive investigation, Commissioner Silver determined there was no misapplication of the playing rules. The Replay Center Official correctly understood the rules to require that Collins’ basket count if he was in the act of shooting when the goaltending call was made. The Replay Center Official also correctly followed the established process of replay review.

Source: NBA

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