"How can you be this incompetent": Massive uproar breaks out after officials seemingly make major blunder in Mavericks vs. Pelicans game

The Dallas Mavericks were on the raw end of a blown call by officials late in their game against the New Orleans Pelicans that cost them the game. Fans took to social media to express their frustration on the major blunder.

The play took place in the dying seconds of the Southwest Conference showdown, with the Pelicans holding a precarious one-point lead 117-116. After Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie received the ball off a stolen inbounds pass, he drove to the basket for the possible good ahead basket. His shot, however, was blocked by Trey Murphy III.

Upon closer look though, the referees missed on a goaltending by Murphy as Dinwiddie's shot hit the backboard first before being blocked. Unfortunately, the Mavericks did not have a timeout left and challenge. Murphy was fouled in the ensuing play and hit his two free throws to preserve the 119-116 victory.

Fans raised a huge howl over the massive blown call. Below are what some of them wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

"How can you be this incompetent," a visibly frustrated fan said.

"How do professional refs miss something that obvious," another user pointed out.

"Holy moly that is atrocious," one laid down.

"Man that was crazy. They can't challenge because there was no stoppage i.e foul? a fan tried to clarify.

"What's the point of playing that whole game if that's how it ends. Should have just started with that play," one lamented.

"What's the point of replay," a user put forth.

"Was he out of challenges? That's two nights in a row the officials screwed them out of a bucket," another highlighted.

The loss was doubly painful for the Mavericks as it was their third straight and eighth in their last 10 games.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd calls out referees after blown call

As expected, Dallas Mevericks coach Jason Kidd had something to say on the game officials after they missed on the goaltending call in their road game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

During the post-game press conference, Kidd took to task the referees for not doing their job in a crucial moment of the game that cost them the game, 119-116.

He told reporters (via Mavericks beat reporter Noah Weber):

"I think they (the refs) were scared to death to do anything, so they did nothing... They didn't see it. That's the explanation. They didn't see it... They didn't do their job tonight."

Kidd went to say:

"The league wants to get it right, the referees have a tough job, they clearly did not get that one right. It cost us the game... Hopefully the referees can be better in close games..."

The Mavericks dropped to 22-19 following the loss, eighth in the Westerm Conference. They next play on Friday at home against the OKC Thunder.