NBA admits refs' error that cost Mavericks

DALLAS (AP) — The NBA says officials were wrong when they didn't call an intentional foul on the Dallas Mavericks just before Denver's Carmelo Anthony made a game-winning 3-pointer.

The Mavericks had the lead and a foul to give Saturday when Denver inbounded the ball trailing by two points with less than 8 seconds left. Antoine Wright was clearly trying to foul Anthony, and bumped him twice.

But the whistle never blew and Anthony swished a 3-pointer from the corner with a second left that gave the Nuggets a 106-105 victory and a 3-0 series lead.

In a statement released after the game, Joel Litvin, NBA president for league and basketball operations, said "the officials missed an intentional foul" committed by Wright on Anthony.

Here's more, with Tamara Jolee...