Jalen Brunson & Knicks fans fume as controversial call extends losing streak
NBA - YouTubeJalen Brunson, Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks’ fanbase were incensed after a botched call against the Rockets extended their losing streak to three games on Monday night.
All-Star Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks were left bewildered after an outrageous blown call from the referees costed them the game against the Houston Rockets on Monday night.
On the court, Brunson and Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau couldn’t help but throw their arms up and contend in disbelief as Brunson was called for a ticky-tack foul for grazing Aaron Holiday on a three-point heave with less than one second left on the game clock.
A magnifying glass was needed to spot any contact made on the play. However, following the loss, Brunson, Thibodeau and fuming Knicks fans put their displeasure on front street.
Brunson shrugged off blown call in locker room interview
After the game, all Brunson had to say were four words: “Great call. Next question.”
Teeming with sarcasm, Brunson couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of the refs’ poor usage of their whistle.
To make matters even worse, NBA crew chief Ed Malloy came out and admitted that the call was wrong after the fact. Malloy deemed the lower body contact made as “marginal” and “incidental” in his ensuing pool report.
Thibodeau & Knicks fans were hot after third-straight loss
As for coach Thibodeau, he could be seen shouting expletives at the officials once regulation ended without the Knicks having the chance to get one more shot up.
Per New York Basketball on X, Thibodeau caught some composure in the post game press conference and said:
“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. They have a job, they have to control and manage the game. That’s their number one responsibility,” Thibodeau demanded.
The loss increased the Knicks’ current skid to three games. The call only magnified mounting frustrations stemming from an injury bug that has plagued the Knicks’ rotation, contributing to their uncharacteristic losing ways of late.
Knicks fans took to X to take their pound of flesh out on the officials. One fan placed the blame on the NBA:
The Knicks will look to put this one behind them and win their next two games before the All-Star break, but this loss is one they won’t be able to get back.