Can the Knicks ever end a game in a normal way?
For the nth time this post-season, the New York Knicks played a ridiculously tight game that was decided in the final couple minutes and spurred controversy online.
Tied at 113-113 with two minutes left, Game 1 between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers became the referee show as they got on calls with officials in Secaucus, New Jersey three times to hand out rulings after reviews.
It all came to a head in the final 12 seconds when Pacers centre Myles Turner was called for an illegal screen offensive foul and the possession changed hands with the Knicks up 118-117.
“I don’t wanna talk about the officiating,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after the game. “We’re not expecting to get calls in here. It would be nice if they laid off that one, but they didn’t. So that’s just the way it goes.
“We challenged it, they reviewed it, they’ve got a bunch of people in New Jersey that agreed with them so that’s just the way it goes. We’ve gotta learn from that too.”
Carlisle seemed to believe that playing the game in front of a packed house at Madison Square Gardens may have influenced some of the officiating.
Following the call, Knicks star Jalen Brunson hit three more free throws after an away-from-the-play foul by Andrew Nembhard, icing the game and ending what could’ve gone down as an instant classic.
“In my experience in this league, I think it’s best when players decide the outcome of the game,” Turner said post-game.
Pacers and Knicks fans alike were frustrated on social media, wondering why a call like that was made in that big a spot and why the referees would slow down an absolute thriller. Here are some of the reactions.
There was also a controversial kicked ball call with 52.1 seconds left which would’ve resulted in a Brunson turnover with the game tied at 115 apiece.
Brunson seemed to go for a bounce pass to Donte DiVincenzo but put it right into Aaron Nesmith’s legs as the defender was making a seemingly valid move down the lane.
The ball also hit Nesmith’s hand on the way through, which would rule out the kicked ball violation.
However, kicked ball violations cannot be challenged, so the Pacers weren’t able to plead their case.
DiVincenzo wound up hitting the dagger 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.
In the post-game pool report interview with crew chief Zach Zarba, the official said that the kicked ball call was a mistake.
“On the floor, we felt that would be a kicked ball violation. Post-game review did show that it hit the defender’s hand, which would be legal,” Zarba said to The Athletic’s Fred Katz.
Though the kicked ball call has already been deemed as incorrect, the NBA will release a full L2M (last two minute) report tomorrow, detailing any other missed calls in the final minutes of the game.
Turner told reporters that he and the rest of the Pacers are looking forward to reading it. As are most fans.
