Jan 15, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) blocks the shot of Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images / Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

The NBA acknowledged Thursday that officials erred at the end of the Pelicans-Mavericks game the previous night by not calling goaltending on what would have been a go-ahead bucket for Dallas.

But with six defeats in their last eight games, the Mavericks were losing buoyancy, so they were grateful for Tuesday night’s return of Kyrie Irving, even as they fell to Denver, 118-99, in American Airlines Center for the second time in three nights.

Dallas guard Kyrie Irving has been ruled out of the Mavericks' game Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, who are similarly resting power forward Zion Williamson. Both players were in action a night earlier,