Dallas Mavericks fans have had it.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. But Monday night marked a new low in the Nico Harrison saga as fans in Dallas revived the “Fire Nico” chant during a home game that the Mavericks still had a chance to win.
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With 1.2 seconds remaining against the Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks forward P.J. Washington was fouled on a 3-point shot as Milwaukee held a 116-113 lead.
When he got to the line with a chance to tie the game with three free throws, Mavericks fans focused their energy not on the outcome of the game, but on their disdain for the Dallas general manager who traded away Luka Dončić.
Here’s what it looked and sounded like on TV. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo took notice as he prepared to box out.
That clip is from shortly after Washington missed the second of three free throws, ending any chance of a Mavericks win short of a miracle.
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But make no mistake. Mavericks fans were focused on firing Harrison when the Mavs were in better shape to win the game and even when they had the lead. Here’s what it looked and sounded like from the upper deck during previous Washington free throws as the Mavericks held a fourth-quarter lead.
And here they are again chanting “Fire Nico” as anointed franchise savior Cooper Flagg stood at the line for two free throws as the Bucks held a 112-109 lead with one minute remaining.
Flagg hit both free throws on arguably his best night as a pro to cut the Milwaukee lead to one point. He finished the game with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block while shooting 9 of 15 from the field. According to ESPN Research, he tied LeBron James at 18 years, 324 days as the youngest player to ever score more than 25 points in an NBA game.
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He also hit a clutch layup over Antetokounmpo to give the Mavericks a 113-112 lead in the game’s final minute.
But it wasn’t enough to secure a Mavericks win as the Bucks took the lead for good on a Ryan Rollins layup on the other end.
And it wasn’t nearly enough to satiate Mavericks fans, who witnessed a collapse from an 88-79 fourth quarter lead for another loss to drop Dallas to 3-8 for the season.
The Mavericks hit the jackpot with a historically long-shot Draft Lottery win for the rights to secure Flagg first overall. That good fortune provided Harrison with temporary cover from the disdain surrounding him in Dallas for trading away Dončić to the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
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There was some hope in Dallas that Flagg could combine with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving to compete in the West this season. But the oft-injured Davis who was acquired in return for Dončić is injured again and missed his sixth straight game Monday night. And Irving remains without a timeline to return from last season’s ACL tear.
Regardless, this team doesn’t look two aging and hobbled stars away from competing at the top of the West with the Thunder and Nuggets — not even close. And the heat on Harrison is as high as it has ever been.
Mavericks fans are more than happy to continue to turn it up.