Editor's note: This story has been updated since it was first published to include a statement from Kristaps Porzingis' attorney Roland Riopelle.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- As a cloud of uncertainty hovered over the Mavericks franchise on Sunday, two league sources strongly contradicted one key reported detail of the still-developing Kristaps Porzingis story.

The most important question, of course, is whether Porzingis raped a woman in his Midtown penthouse in February 2018, as she alleged to New York City police on Thursday, an allegation that Porzingis' attorney said is "unequivocally" false.

A secondary, yet also important, aspect is what the Mavericks knew and didn't know when they acquired 7-foot-3 Porzingis from the Knicks on Jan. 31.

An ESPN report on Saturday stated that the Knicks informed the Mavericks of the pending rape allegation against Porzingis on the night of the trade during the conference call with NBA officials to finalize the seven-player, two-draft-pick deal.

Two league sources who spoke to The Dallas Morning News on Sunday took issue with that report.

"The word that was used was 'extortion,' " one of the sources said.

"The word 'rape' was never used, only 'extortion,' " the second source said.

While a one-word difference in characterizations of what was said on the conference call might seem like semantics, the sources who spoke to The News were adamant that there is a distinct difference.

Were the Mavericks made aware of a potential problem hanging over the head of their prize acquisition? Absolutely.

One of the sources said that the Knicks told the Mavericks during the call that they had known of the alleged extortion attempt, but were convinced that Porzingis was telling the truth. The Mavericks also were told that the FBI was investigating, and the nature of the investigation.

Later Sunday evening, NBA Players Association executive director Michele Roberts issued a statement supporting Porzingis: "We have been aware of these allegations for some time, have evaluated the accuser's claims and, based on what is presently before us, stand with Kristaps."

Roberts' statement, and Sunday's refuting of what was said on the conference call, doesn't absolve the Mavericks of not doing thorough diligence, if in fact the allegations against Porzingis are proven true. But the sources said the Mavericks, contrary to what the ESPN report stated, had no indication that the alleged victim was on the verge of reporting her rape claim to authorities.

Until Sunday, the only Mavericks public comment on the matter was owner Mark Cuban saying by email: "We have been instructed by federal authorities not to comment."

But before his Mavericks, without injured Luka Doncic (right thigh contusion) shocked Oklahoma City 106-103 Sunday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, coach Rick Carlisle briefly commented on the Porzingis situation.

He was asked about the ESPN report that the Mavericks were made aware of the allegations against Porzingis during the trade call.

"I have no knowledge of any of that, so, therefore, I can't comment on it," Carlisle said.

Carlisle on the @kporzee situation. Says he already was scheduled to stay back in Dallas, along with Doncic. pic.twitter.com/wptP2GiHGF — Brad Townsend (@townbrad) March 31, 2019

As for why Porzingis did not travel to Oklahoma City, Carlisle pointed out that Doncic also remained in Dallas, for the same reasons.

"They're working out with our strength coach, who stayed back, and our shooting coach, who stayed back, as well," Carlisle said. "That was all pre-planned."

Porzingis has practiced with the Mavericks in recent weeks, but it was decided at the time of the Jan. 31 trade that he would not suit up for any games this season. That plan hasn't changed.

Will Porzingis' practice status change in the wake of the allegations?

"No," Carlisle said. "With case of today, this was prescheduled. I don't see any change. If he wanted to take some personal time away from being on the bench or whatever, we would certainly grant him that. But that would be his call."

While the Mavericks as a team clearly pushed aside any potential distractions on Sunday, behind 25 Trey Burke points, 18 Jalen Brunson points and a season-high 13 rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki, the sudden Porzingis cloud could linger for months.

The New York Post reported on Saturday that the NYPD was investigating a rape claim against Porzingis that allegedly occurred just hours after he suffered an ACL tear against Milwaukee at Madison Square Garden.

Law enforcement sources in The Post report said the alleged victim -- a woman in her 20s who lived in the same building as Porzingis -- reported the claim on Thursday. The woman alleged Porzingis visited her apartment at 2 a.m. before she accepted an invitation to his penthouse, where he allegedly threw her down and raped her.

The Post reported that the accuser told law enforcement that she discussed receiving hush money from Porzingis in the form of $68,000 for her brother's college tuition. Porzingis allegedly agreed, but later went back on the promise.

While "unequivocally" denying the rape allegation, Porzingis' attorney, Roland G. Riopelle, told The Post that "we made a formal referral to federal law enforcement on December 20th, 2018, based on the accuser's extortionate demands. We also alerted the National Basketball Association months ago and they are aware of the ongoing investigation of the accuser by federal law enforcement."

As for what the Knicks told the Mavericks by conference call on the night of Jan. 31, two league sources are unequivocal, as well, about what they say transpired.

It could take weeks, perhaps months, for the facts to bear out, long after the Mavericks' season ends on April 10 -- and perhaps into the summer, when the Mavericks and Porzingis can as early as July agree on a longterm contract.

The Mavericks and Porzingis can only hope the cloud has cleared by then.

Twitter: @Townbrad