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Don Nelson's Vintage Jab at Jazz Flops
12 Aug
Summary
- Nelson accused the Jazz of manipulating referees with flops.
- Dallas Mavericks trailed 2-0 before winning three games.
- Michael Finley led the comeback with 33 points in 48 minutes.
In the 2001 playoffs, Don Nelson, then the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, voiced strong frustration with the Utah Jazz's style of play. Nelson accused the Jazz of "manipulat[ing] referees" with their "flops" and "abus[ing] the rules." This sentiment surfaced after the Mavericks lost the opening playoff game to Utah, a series that continued a contentious history between the two teams.
Despite Nelson's criticism and falling behind 2-0 in the series, the Mavericks found a way to rally. They secured victories in Games 3 and 4 on their home court, forcing a decisive Game 5 back in Utah. In a dramatic turn of events, Dallas overcame a significant deficit to win the final game by a single point, advancing in the postseason.
The comeback was spearheaded by Michael Finley, who played all 48 minutes of Game 5 and scored 33 points. Finley's clutch play, including the go-ahead basket with just 9.8 seconds remaining, sealed the improbable series victory for the Mavericks.
