Mavs’ season is on life support after Kyrie Irving’s controversial foul set up Trae Young’s game-winning free throws for Hawks… as FORMER Dallas star Jalen Brunson and Knicks clinch second playoff berth in 10 years
While the Mavericks’ new point guard was risking Dallas’ season with a costly foul, his predecessor was guiding the New York Knicks to a playoff berth for just the second time in the last decade.
Kyrie Irving’s controversial foul on Atlanta’s Trae Young allowed the Hawks to pull out a 132-130 overtime win against the visiting Mavericks, putting Dallas one game behind the 10th-place Oklahoma City Thunder for the final play-in spot in the West with three left to play.
Meanwhile, former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson’s sensational season continued Sunday as he scored 27 points in the Knicks’ 118-109 win over the visiting Washington Wizards. The win not only clinches a playoff spot for New York, but nearly guarantees the Knicks the five seed in the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs.
After winning two national titles at Villanova, Brunson played his first four seasons with the Mavericks, who regrettably opted against signing the point guard to a contract extension. Instead, he signed a four-year, $105 million pact with the Knicks last summer, and now he and Tom Thibodeau’s team area headed to the playoffs.
Without Brunson, the Mavericks chose to add Irvin at the trade deadline, but that deal with the Brooklyn Nets has not paid any dividends for Dallas and coach Jason Kidd.
Former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson (right) is headed to the playoffs with the Knicks
Kyrie Irving’s controversial foul on Atlanta’s Trae Young allowed the Hawks to win in overtime
Mavericks star Kyrie Irving reacts after he was charged with a foul against Trae Young
Irving had 41 points on Sunday, but was whistled for a controversial foul on Young with 1.8 seconds remaining in overtime and the game tied at 130.
Young made both, and alter admitted it was ‘kind of a lucky play for us and unlucky for them.’
Young said he accidently stepped on the foot of Mavericks guard Josh Green before crashing into Irving. ‘I just got in Kyrie’s way,’ Young said.
Kidd said ‘it was a wild ending’ and added ‘it was just unfortunate we got a foul there that could have gone either way.’
Following Young’s free throws, Luke Doncic, who scored 22 points, missed a last-second 3-pointer.
‘I thought Luke got a great look there at the end,’ Kidd said. ‘He’s the one who can make it.’
The Hawks (39-39) moved back into eighth place in the play-in race. Toronto and Chicago put pressure on the Hawks with wins before Atlanta´s game. The Hawks have the tiebreaker advantage over Toronto.
The Hawks are only one ahead of the 10th-place Bulls for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference and play at Chicago on Tuesday night.
Irving’s mid-range jumper with 37 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 121. Saddiq Bey’s layup gave the lead back to Atlanta.
Christian Wood was fouled by John Collins and made one free throw before missing the second with 1.2 seconds remaining. With 0.4 seconds remaining, Atlanta’s Clint Capela fouled JaVale McGee near the basket as McGee reached for Doncic’s inbound pass. McGee missed the first free throw and made the second to tie the game at 123 and force overtime.
John Collins’ 3-pointer, followed by Clint Capela’s jam, gave Atlanta an 84-74 lead midway through the third period. The Hawks stretched the advantage to 15 points at 91-76, but Dallas used a 15-3 run to close the deficit to 94-91 entering the final period.