Blinksportsnews247NBA referees haven’t had a stellar season thus far. To the expanding list of games that have infuriated players, coaches, and fans alike, add the conclusion of the New York Knicks-Houston Rockets game on Monday.
At Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, with 8.1 seconds remaining, Knicks star Jalen Brunson had just tied the score at 103. Brunson blocked Rockets player Aaron Holiday’s potential game-winning jumper from the left wing with one second remaining in the game.
Brunson seemed to pass by Holiday without really connecting. Referee Jacyn Goble called a shooting foul on Brunson despite Holiday’s missed shot. The Knicks were unable to dispute the play since they had already utilized their coach’s challenge.
Holiday completed two of the three free throws to give the Rockets a 105-103 victory.
Coach Tom Thibodeau of the Knicks was incensed when the game was formally declared finished. After Holiday’s final free throw, he had been planning a play in the hopes of gaining a few tenths of a second back on the clock.
Throughout the whole game, the Knicks received seven more foul calls (23–16) than the Rockets. In addition, the host side made far fewer free throws during the game—just 12 against Houston’s 33 tries.
When questioned about the refereeing during his postgame news conference, Thibodeau seemed remarkably composed.
It was excellent. Fantastic,” Thibodeau said cynically.
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