The New York Knicks have chosen a passive stance regarding their recent loss against the Houston Rockets. From head coach Tom Thibodeau to Jalen Brunson, everyone is refraining from criticizing the referees. Surprisingly, this strategy appears to have worked in their favor.
In a rare turn of events, Crew Chief Ed Malloy reviewed the controversial call made by Jacyn Goble in the last second of the game. Malloy states that the contact by Jalen Brunson after Holiday’s release of the ball was deemed incidental. Furthermore, it was deemed marginal to the type of shot attempt and should not have been called. The revelation indicates that the referees impacted the outcome of the game – even without the intention of doing so.
Official Ed Malloy in pool report after Jalen Brunson's foul on Aaron Holiday at end of Rockets win over Knicks: "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."
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 13, 2024
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Citing the reason for the call, Malloy claimed “In live action, it was felt that the lower body contact was illegal contact.”
The game-altering moment unfolded in the final play, with the Rockets possessing the ball in a tied game at 103-103. Jalen Green attempted a layup along the baseline, but his reverse layup was swatted away, leading to a loose ball in the hands of Aaron Holiday with just fractions of a second remaining in the game.
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In a sudden turn, Jalen Brunson soared over Holiday’s attempted long ball. The buzzer initially signaled the end of regulation, propelling both teams into overtime. However, the whistle in the arena rewound the clock to 0.3 seconds, attributing a shooting foul to Brunson. This decision granted the Houston Rockets three free throws with 0.3 seconds on the clock. Consequently, they made two of those shots, clinching a 105-103 victory in the game.
Josh Hart responds to the officiating update
Throughout the season, players and coaches have openly criticized officiating, resulting in fines from the league. However, the Knicks opted for subtle remarks and sarcastic comments to navigate their frustrations. Once the referee’s blunder came to light, Hart, being the social media maestro, took to X with laughing emojis, and checkingly exclaiming, “No way bro.”
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No way bro 😂😂😂😂😂
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) February 13, 2024
Before the big reveal, Hart ensured that fans and media were aware of his stance while avoiding the risk of a fine. When questioned about the late call, Hart evaded the answer and instead put the reporter on the hot seat, prompting them for their opinion. Upon hearing that the reporter deemed it unfair, Hart diplomatically encouraged them to convey that statement in their publication.
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Considering the sequence of events that unfolded, it seems the reporter may indeed fulfill Hart’s wishes.