Getty ImagesDALLAS - Brooding Dallas Mavericks fans looked for reasons why their team failed to win its first NBA title after taking a 2-0 lead over the Miami Heat.
The Heat’s 95-92 victory Tuesday night gave Miami its NBA first championship, a 4-2 win they celebrated on the Mavericks’ court.
“I paid $1,200 for these tickets, and we did not win,” said Ashleigh Adams of Arlington, among dejected fans who streamed out of the American Airlines Center and made plans to drown their sorrows.
“We got the coach. We got the team. We wanted it all this year, though,” said Korby Keene. “The Heat aren’t that good. The refs gave them the game.”
Three people, all Mavericks fans, were arrested on misdemeanor assault charges, and one was treated at the scene after a fight in the arena parking lot. Police said tension from the game contributed to the incident.
Fan criticism of the referees followed the example provided by the Dallas owner.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $250,000 on Tuesday for his outbursts following Game 5 of the NBA finals, and commissioner David Stern said he was becoming weary of off-court antics drawing attention from the series.
Cuban was cited for “several acts of misconduct” committed after Dallas lost 101-100 in overtime to the Heat in Miami on Sunday night. The infractions included Cuban going onto the floor to complain directly to official Joe DeRosa, screaming toward Stern and a group of league officials.
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“If we believe that the last great conspiracy theory in Dallas was JFK’s death, the second greatest conspiracy theory was that David Stern wanted the Miami Heat to win the championship,” said fan George Graffy, 41.
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A balanced offensive and defensive attack combined with some dreadful shooting by the Boston Celtics helped the Philadelphia 76ers avoid elimination and force a deciding Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 82-75 victory Wednesday night.
CSN: The young and inexperienced 76ers showed no fear with their backs against the wall in Game 6 and earned a final shot against the Celtics on Saturday for a berth into the Eastern Conference finals.
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