Feb 12, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after the end of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: New York Knicks at Houston Rockets
HOUSTON — A referees whistle cost the New York Knicks a chance at a comeback victory on Monday night against the Houston Rockets.
The game was deadlocked 103-103 with seconds remaining, and appeared to be headed for overtime.
Rockets guard Jalen Green drove to the rim, only for Knicks big man Precious Achiuwa to block away the attempt at a game-winning shot. The ball was retrieved by Aaron Holiday, who chucked up a prayer from the coalmines — nearly 30 feet away from the basket.
Jacyn Goble, a longtime official, inexplicably answered that prayer. The shot did not go in, but Goble called a foul on Brunson for running into the shooter with .3 seconds remaining.
Holiday went on to sink two free throws, and the Rockets escaped with a 105-103 victory.
Referee crew chief Ed Malloy said after the game that the contact between Brunson and Holiday was incidental, acknowledging the game-deciding call on the floor was incorrect.
“After seeing it during postgame review, the offensive player was able to return to a normal playing position on the floor,” Malloy told pool reporter Fred Katz of The Athletic following the game. “The contact which occurred after the release of the ball therefore is incidental and marginal to the shot attempt and should not have been called.”
Had the foul not been called, the Knicks and Rockets would have gone into overtime tied at 103.
Brunson, who finished with 27 points, still was in disbelief after the game.
“Great call,” he sarcastically said. “Next question.”
“This is the way I feel about that in general: I don’t really care how tight the game is called. You can call it tight or you can call it loose, I just would like the consistency to be the same,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibedouu explained.
“They have a job. They have to control and manage the game — that’s their No. 1 responsibility, so they have to use their judgment and I have respect for that. It didn’t go our way tonight.”
Frustrations of Knicks players spilled to social media later that night.
Precious Achiuwa posted”Nasty work” with a facepalm emoji to X while guard Josh Hard said “No way bro” with five crying laughing emojis.
The loss comes at a trying time for the Knicks, who are missing four of their most important players: Julius Randle (shoulder), OG Anunoby (elbow), Mitchel Robinson (ankle), and Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles).
New York might have to add Dante DiVincenzo to that list, too. The team’s starting shooting guard exited Monday’s game with six minutes remaining because of an apparent hamstring injury.
