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Referee controversy erupts: The missed call that sank New York Knicks in Game 3
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- Referee controversy erupts: The missed call that sank New York Knicks in Game 3
Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
The Spurs won Game 3, and much of the talk afterwards focused on the officials.
San Antonio took 24 second-half free throws to New York 's eight, and a first-quarter incident where Wembanyama shoved Jalen Brunson without a call set a physical tone that the Knicks felt worked against them.
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Knicks coach Mike Brown wasn't happy with San Antonio's 24-8 advantage in second-half free throw attempts but kept his comments in perspective: "I tell the guys, it's a seven-game series for a reason. They are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It's not going to be easy."
Late in the first quarter, Wembanyama knocked Brunson to the ground as he tried to set a screen, but there was no whistle. The Knicks guard responded immediately, clearly frustrated, and it set the tone for how physical things would get.
"Whatever you saw is what you saw," Brunson said when asked about it later. The moment was similar to something from Game 2, when Wembanyama grabbed Jose Alvarado and threw him aside without picking up a foul.
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Why the officiating stood out
Free throws are among the most efficient ways to score, and a 16-attempt difference in a close game like this can't be overlooked. San Antonio's aggressive play consistently drew contact, putting New York into early foul trouble in both halves.
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This approach not only helped the Spurs rack up points but also forced Knicks defenders to back off. When a physical team is getting those calls, they become even tougher to stop, and San Antonio took full advantage.
Complaining about the officiating is nothing new, but Brown didn't use it as an excuse for the loss. Instead, he focused on what the Knicks need to do next. Heading into Game 4, New York's challenge will be adapting to how this series is being called rather than waiting for it to change.
If San Antonio is going to be allowed that level of physical play, New York will have to either match that intensity or find ways to draw more contact themselves. Otherwise, they could find themselves in even more trouble if San Antonio continues taking advantage from the line.
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