Crooked rim leads to 44-minute delay in Philadelphia 76ers-Dallas Mavericks game

DALLAS -- The game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks was delayed 44 minutes midway through the first quarter Friday night when one of the rims was determined to be crooked.

The delay took place with 6:03 left in the period when one of the baskets came out of alignment. The Mavericks' Luka Doncic made a 3-pointer and called the crooked rim to the attention of the officials with the 76ers leading 19-17.

Before the arena maintenance crew went to work, 7-foot-4 Boban Marjanovic of Dallas unsuccessfully tried to yank it back in place.

The entire hoop, backboard and stanchion had to be replaced.

As the new apparatus was wheeled out of the tunnel and onto the floor, the 76ers' Matisse Thybulle clapped politely from Philadelphia's bench.

After the replacement was made, the players were given five minutes to warm up before play resumed.

"It was enough time for us to get our defense right,'' Dallas forwardReggie Bullocksaid after the game.

The Mavericks, led by Doncic's 44th career triple-double (33 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists), rallied from a 16-point, second-quarter deficit to beat the 76ers 107-98.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.